Best Great Ape Enclosure in the UK

[Zambar]

As we have one for big cats, why not big apes?

Note the following are all out of the ones I've seen for myself; for example I'd love to put forward Edinburgh's Budongo Trail, but as I haven't seen it in the flesh I won't put it down.

Gorilla - Without a doubt, Port Lymnpe's Palace of the Apes. The huge indoor housing, the one acre garden full of grass and climbing stands, but best of all the ginormous outdoor gym: All lead to a fantastic family group behaving naturally in the huge amount of enriching resources given to them. And that's not to say this exhbit, as the park's Gorilla Pavillion and sister Howletts gorilla gyms all provide a fantastic enviroment.
Palace of the Apes at Port Lymnpe

Chimp - Monkey World's Chimp Paddocks. Simple yet effective, full of climbing oppurtunities where rescued chimps are able to lead a better quality of life in large groups.
Chimps at Monkey World

Orangutan - Paignton's Orangutan Islands. Another example of simple design at it's best. Privacy from the public in a completely natural state, able to forage through plants and climb up high trees.
Orangutan Island at Paignton

 

[CZJimmy]

Budongo at Edinburgh
http://www.zoochat.com/61/edinburgh-zoo-06-04-09-a-71702/

Realm of the Red Ape at Chester
http://www.zoochat.com/42/outside-realm-red-ape-35493/
http://www.zoochat.com/42/realm-red-ape-36198/
http://www.zoochat.com/42/realm-red-ape-aerial-shot-35888/
http://www.zoochat.com/42/realm-red-ape-36086/

Jersey's gorilla enclosure (sans indoor enclosure)
http://www.zoochat.com/56/gorilla-jersey-37939/
http://www.zoochat.com/56/gorilla-enclosure-jersey-zoo-37959/

Jersey's Orang enclosure
http://www.zoochat.com/56/gibbon-enclosure-durrell-jersey-37982/
http://www.zoochat.com/56/jersey-zoos-orangutan-island-2002-a-37948/

chimp enclosure at Chester
http://www.zoochat.com/42/chesters-chimp-islands-2007-a-35615/

Incidentally MD, I had been thinking of starting this thread, but you beat me to it!

 

[redpanda]

In my opinion, Budongo is the UK's best ape enclosure and Realm of the Red Ape is a close second. In terms of welfare, the Howletts/Port Lympne gorilla cages are probably number 1 and Paignton's Marie le Fevre Ape Centre has the most natural outdoor enclosures for the apes.

I reckon Twycross has the best Bonobo enclosure

 

[macca]

edinburgh zoo's budongo trail is the best chimp enclosure i have seen. the chimps have a large outdoor area with lots of climbing opportunities and a choice of rooms inside with different conditions in each room. also the visitor centre has information about the chimps at the zoo, conservation work being carried out and chimps in the wild.

 

[Mike11]

I agree with you Marwell Dalek without a doubt the best Gorilla enclosure is Port Lympnes Palace of the Apes not everyone may like the Gym Style but when i went to Howletts today i have never seen such active and happy gorillas it was such a joy watching them and last year at Palace of the Apes the gorillas really enjoyed the Garden of the Apes next to it.

 

[PrimateKid]

I completely agree with Marwell dalek and Riziki!
Theres something about the Chimp enclosures at Monkey World that are great!
Port Lympne's Gorilla enclosures are great indoor and outdoor and i love the idea of the straw as the floor to represent the forest floor!
PK

 

[Simon McGlary]

Call me biased (you're biased) and I have to be honest and say I haven't yet seen many other enclosures yet but Budongo Trail at Edinburgh. It's unfortunate that when I do my tour of zoos in September I'll be comparing to Budongo when I see chimpanzees. Everything I've heard from the BIAZA awards and from Jane Goodall's opinion on Budongo suggests it's, if not the best, one fo the best. Apparently researchers who have studied chimps in the wild have commented on Edinburgh's chimps displaying the most natural of behaviours.

My understanding is that a lot of other zoos are using Budongo as a benchmark for future primate enclosures!

 

[redpanda]

Call me biased (you're biased) and I have to be honest and say I haven't yet seen many other enclosures yet but Budongo Trail at Edinburgh. It's unfortunate that when I do my tour of zoos in September I'll be comparing to Budongo when I see chimpanzees. Everything I've heard from the BIAZA awards and from Jane Goodall's opinion on Budongo suggests it's, if not the best, one fo the best. Apparently researchers who have studied chimps in the wild have commented on Edinburgh's chimps displaying the most natural of behaviours.

My understanding is that a lot of other zoos are using Budongo as a benchmark for future primate enclosures!

I couldn't agree more, it's a glorious feat of design and promises of great things to come with Edinburgh's new masterplan (thinks nervously about not selling the land on Corstophine hill).

 

[ZooMania]

Of all the ones i've seen (which does not include Budongo) id say Realm Of The Red Ape at Chester. Though the enclosures at Port Lympne and Howletts were fantastic aswell, and id say Monkey Worlds Chimps have it very nicely aswell.

 

[taun]

For me it has to be RoRA, fantastic on all areas, visitor’s, animals, aesthetics.

Worth while mention is the howletts gorilla enclosure for the animals but when you compare the look and feel of RoRA, you just cannot compare the two in the same category.