Combined ape and aquatic enclosure?

[Lota lota]

Ape enclosures sometimes have water-filled moats and since apes are unable to swim, the moats are used as a sort of "natural" barrier.Now, some of these moats do have fish in them,but from what I have seen it's mostly ornamental pondfish like grasscarp and koi and not fish native to said apes habitat.So,does ayone know of any enclosure that do or did exhibit apes with fish in the moat from the same region?

(Sorry for my horrible english)

 

[LARTIS]

Ape enclosures sometimes have water-filled moats and since apes are unable to swim, the moats are used as a sort of "natural" barrier.Now, some of these moats do have fish in them,but from what I have seen it's mostly ornamental pondfish like grasscarp and koi and not fish native to said apes habitat.So,does ayone know of any enclosure that do or did exhibit apes with fish in the moat from the same region?

(Sorry for my horrible english)

Your english is perfectly fine, as I am pretty sure one could get what you mean eventho I myself am not good at english, so it must be at least good enough.
Any way

I have asked myself this question alike, tho a bit more generalized also viewing such tropical tanks to be possible for indoor moats or pools for big cats.

But in relation to specificaly great apes the issue would probably that these species are likely to throw a lot of stuff like subtrate into the water.

 

[evilmonkey239]

I’ve also heard that ape exhibits surrounded by water moats are increasingly frowned upon, as it is not uncommon for the apes to wander in and drown.

 

[Zooplantman]

Water filled ape moats need to be relatively shallow. To exhibit fish as well I trust there would need to be underwater viewing. This is a large added expense to an ape exhibit that doesn't add much to the ape experience. There are better ways to exhibit fish. Also, as the apes use the moat in various ways there would now need to be an expensive filtration system or no one would see the fish.
So while it could be done, there are more reasons NOT to do it than to do it, imo

 

[birdsandbats]

Omaha keeps several species of tropical Asian fish around their gibbon islands - most notably Mekong Giant Catfish.

 

[gentle lemur]

I know otters are not fishes, but Pairi Daiza has kept oriental small-clawed otters with one of their groups of Sumatran orang utans. Chester tried the same combination, but neither species seemed happy with the idea, although I don't think any harm was done.

 

[Lota lota]

Omaha keeps several species of tropical Asian fish around their gibbon islands - most notably Mekong Giant Catfish.

Wow,that's really cool,especially considering the way it's going for the catfish.I could find one picture in the gallery of the exhibit with the catfish,and the water wasn't murky at all.Is this normally the case and how do they keep it that clean?

 

[Lota lota]

Also, as the apes use the moat in various ways there would now need to be an expensive filtration system or no one would see the fish.
So while it could be done, there are more reasons NOT to do it than to do it, imo

I could only find one picture in the gallery of the mekong catifish in the gibbon islands moat at omaha,but from what i can see the water seems to shallow to have any underwater viewing,and the water visability was good.I don't know ,but i suspect it's maybe a bit easier with gibbons since they are more arboreal.

 

[Zoofan15]

I can do better than fish. Taronga Zoo used to have native Eastern snake-necked turtle in their Common chimpanzee moat. The turtles were rescued after the four juveniles at the time (Samaki, Lani, Furahi and Shikamoo) made a habit of killing them, routinely heading down to the most and searching for them.

 

[Jambo]

I can do better than fish. Taronga Zoo used to have native Eastern snake-necked turtle in their Common chimpanzee moat. The turtles were rescued after the four juveniles at the time (Samaki, Lani, Furahi and Shikamoo) made a habit of killing them, routinely heading down to the most and searching for them.

They still do have a duck family living in there though.

 

[Chlidonias]

Ape enclosures sometimes have water-filled moats and since apes are unable to swim, the moats are used as a sort of "natural" barrier.Now, some of these moats do have fish in them,but from what I have seen it's mostly ornamental pondfish like grasscarp and koi and not fish native to said apes habitat.So,does ayone know of any enclosure that do or did exhibit apes with fish in the moat from the same region?

The reason fish in ape moats are cold-hardy species is because most moated ape enclosures are outdoors in temperate regions (certainly in most of Europe and North America), and most fish from the same regions as apes are tropical.

 

[Lota lota]

The reason fish in ape moats are cold-hardy species is because most moated ape enclosures are outdoors in temperate regions (certainly in most of Europe and North America), and most fish from the same regions as apes are tropical.

I don't know but i guess the fishes in the gibbon islands moat at omaha are bts in the winter. And if a zoo like omaha that is located in areas with cold winters can exhbit tropical fish,then i'am certain it would be possible for some of the very reputable zoos in australia to do this.

 

[Lota lota]

I can do better than fish. Taronga Zoo used to have native Eastern snake-necked turtle in their Common chimpanzee moat. The turtles were rescued after the four juveniles at the time (Samaki, Lani, Furahi and Shikamoo) made a habit of killing them, routinely heading down to the most and searching for them.

What, were they wild animals and the zoo just let them live there or were they zoo animals that were intended to be there? If the latter, then i have hard time understanding what the curators were thinking.

 

[Zoofan15]

What, were they wild animals and the zoo just let them live there or were they zoo animals that were intended to be there? If the latter, then i have hard time understanding what the curators were thinking.

They were naturally occurring/native and lived in the moat without issue until Lani discovered them. The keepers removed them as soon as they realised the situation of them being predated.

 

[Chlidonias]

I don't know but i guess the fishes in the gibbon islands moat at omaha are bts in the winter. And if a zoo like omaha that is located in areas with cold winters can exhbit tropical fish,then i'am certain it would be possible for some of the very reputable zoos in australia to do this.

The gibbons at Omaha are inside the Lied Jungle - not an outdoor moated enclosure.

 

[TinoPup]

DWA has multiple primates - their sakis and howlers, I think? - on a multi-story tree/canopy in the middle of their main tank with their manatee, arapaima, red-tail catfish, etc.

 

[Fallax]

I know otters are not fishes, but Pairi Daiza has kept oriental small-clawed otters with one of their groups of Sumatran orang utans. Chester tried the same combination, but neither species seemed happy with the idea, although I don't think any harm was done.

Are the otters and orangutans no longer mixed at Chester? I was under the assumption they still were in the outdoor enclosure next to the aquarium.

 

[gentle lemur]

Are the otters and orangutans no longer mixed at Chester? I was under the assumption they still were in the outdoor enclosure next to the aquarium.

I may be wrong. I was remembering the sequence from SLOTZ several years ago, the otters may still have access to that enclosure, but I don't remember ever seeing them use it.

 

[Jana]

Indonesian jungle house at Prague zoo has indoor orang exhibit surrounded by a water moat. It is full of Asian turtles (Orlitia, Elseya, Cuora...) and fish. However with no underwater viewing it doesnt generate much interest from visitors.

 

[Lota lota]

They were naturally occurring/native and lived in the moat without issue until Lani discovered them. The keepers removed them as soon as they realised the situation of them being predated.

If it were invasive turtles it would have been good encrichment for the chimps,and a service to the native australian fauna.