Apenheul Primate Park Gorillas at Apenheul

J

Jurek7

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Hi,

Who can tell when gorillas were introduced to the big island at Apenheul?

Zoo website says that gorillas arrived in 1976 and the first birth was in 1979. Were they on the island at that time?

Some zoo books say that the first naturalistic exhibit for gorillas was opened in the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle in August 1979. But I think some zoos in Europe were earlier!
 
Jurek7 said:
Hi,

Who can tell when gorillas were introduced to the big island at Apenheul?

Zoo website says that gorillas arrived in 1976 and the first birth was in 1979. Were they on the island at that time?

Some zoo books say that the first naturalistic exhibit for gorillas was opened in the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle in August 1979. But I think some zoos in Europe were earlier!
Click to expand...

I have seen a photo of Apenheul's first pregnant female(Mouila) being shown a baby Spider Monkey to help her learn motherhood. That would have been in 1978/79 as 'Kriba' was born in August 1979 and it looks as if the mother to be is out on grass (the Island?) at that time. It would be good to know exactly when the Island opened.
 
Last edited:
Not to stray to far off the beaten path, but I have found a few books that claim that the Woodland Park Zoo's gorilla exhibit actually opened in the summer of 1978, rather than 1979 as claimed in some other books and online links. Puzzling, but either way there is usually in brackets a statement that it was the first of its kind. The actual zoo's website claims that it was "the world's first naturalistic gorilla exhibit", and it opened in 1979.
 
snowleopard said:
The actual zoo's website claims that it was "the world's first naturalistic gorilla exhibit", and it opened in 1979.
Click to expand...

I can remember reading about it at the time as it was(then) an entirely new concept to have vegetation, fallen logs etc. which made big news in zoological circles.

The question remains though as to when Apenheul's island first opened. I suspect it was being designed at the same time- but which opened first?
 
Hi snowleopard,

The book could be wrong. Many times several atractions claim to be the first: first exhibit, first breeding etc.. And, of course, it is relative what is naturalistic, immersion etc.

I also wonder when Gerald Durrell zoo on Jersey opened its gorilla exhibit. It is definitely grassy and open-top, although had artifical tree trunks and ropes so might not be naturalistic in current standards?

I always wonder why Apenheul was somehow not followed. It opened walk-through exhibits for squirrel monkeys and lemurs decades ago, and only now they become common elsewhere.
 
Apenheul started on 12 july 1971.
In gorillas arrived in 1974, the gorilla building was built in 1975, the island for the gorillas was made in 1975, and in 1976 building and island was opened for the gorillas. (2.6 gorillas).
 
john said:
Apenheul started on 12 july 1971.
In gorillas arrived in 1974, the gorilla building was built in 1975, the island for the gorillas was made in 1975, and in 1976 building and island was opened for the gorillas. (2.6 gorillas).
Click to expand...

That indicates Hancocks is wrong about Woodland Park being first- Apnheul's island wasn't planted as it was already a block of woodland containing many mature trees & bushes, so was definately naturalistic right from the start.

Jersey's enclosure was opened in 1981. as said above, it was not fully naturalistic though a very large open space-since then blocks of vegetation have grown up and its more so nowadays.
 
I saw the baby myself the day after it was born and it is looking good. The mother is doing fine even though it is her first. I will post if I can when the next ones are born which should be within the next few weeks. Any day now :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top