Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Hello,
today I describe a new part of the African Zone, that opens the Equatorial part of the continent, with a special focus on an exhibit dedicated to Gorillas.
Name : Gorilla Forest.
Year of building : 1988.
Inspiration : Gorilla Rainforest in Melbourne / Australia (cf. Zoolex).
Capacity : 2-10 Gorillas.
Surface : 600 m² for the night quarters [Gorilla Pavilion] (9), and two islands of 2.210 m² and 1.810 m² (10-11).
Fencing : large glass panels in the night quarters. Outside there are islands, the falling of the primates being prevented by an electric fence along the bank.
Internal layout : it includes a 600 m² building that is functional, with 2 indoor enclosures of 150 m² each (B-C), and a visit corridor along.
In the indoor enclosures the soil is made of mulch, and the food (vegetables...) is disposed on mesh on the top of the enclosures.
There's also a room for the staff (A), also visible by the visitors, with a kitchen, a refrigerator and a dishwasher. Only two isolation dens (10 m² each) are off the public view.
All the windows and the walls of the night quarters building are sound-proof.
On the islands the soil is made of clay and planted, some large trees present before the realization of the complex have been maintained. In some areas where the soil and the plants have been damaged by the gorillas the ground has been filled with compost and mulch, that is also useful for the enrichments (pellets, other food items and artefacts are regularly placed in these areas). Browse materials are disposed on the islands too, it reduces the damages to the trees and other plants. On the islands there are grassy zones that give the Gorillas access to the sun, and also places to isolate from the visitors thanks to the slopes, vegetation and mock rocks blocks with caves.
Finally there are puzzle feeders in the inside and in the outside enclosures.
Management : the vegetation near the electric fences is regularly cut. The maintenance happens during the early morning or in winter months when the primates remain inside (when the air temperature is below 10°C).
Studies on Gorilla behaviour are regularly led in this complex.
Visitor facilities : interactive panels and other signage are disposed in the Gorilla Pavilion about the life of the Gorillas and other apes, and the conservation program led in Rwanda for the rare Mountain Gorillas and supported by the Zoo.
In days with affluence there are patrolling staff around the Gorillas islands to avoid incidents.
Here's the map of the Gorilla House, that hasn't changed since last year :
Indoor enclosure of the Gorilla Pavilion :
(Credits : @twilighter )
Gorilla Island :
(Credits : @Haliaeetus )
Western Lowland Gorilla :
(Credits : @Haliaeetus )
Currently the complex hosts only Western Lowland Gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla (2.4) ; the two bachelor males BAGA and DOGO have been joined by four young females called QUENA, RAYMONDE, SABINE and TITA.
I will describe soon the following exhibits of the Equatorial part of the African Zone, this time dedicated to birds.
Stay in touch !
today I describe a new part of the African Zone, that opens the Equatorial part of the continent, with a special focus on an exhibit dedicated to Gorillas.
Name : Gorilla Forest.
Year of building : 1988.
Inspiration : Gorilla Rainforest in Melbourne / Australia (cf. Zoolex).
Capacity : 2-10 Gorillas.
Surface : 600 m² for the night quarters [Gorilla Pavilion] (9), and two islands of 2.210 m² and 1.810 m² (10-11).
Fencing : large glass panels in the night quarters. Outside there are islands, the falling of the primates being prevented by an electric fence along the bank.
Internal layout : it includes a 600 m² building that is functional, with 2 indoor enclosures of 150 m² each (B-C), and a visit corridor along.
In the indoor enclosures the soil is made of mulch, and the food (vegetables...) is disposed on mesh on the top of the enclosures.
There's also a room for the staff (A), also visible by the visitors, with a kitchen, a refrigerator and a dishwasher. Only two isolation dens (10 m² each) are off the public view.
All the windows and the walls of the night quarters building are sound-proof.
On the islands the soil is made of clay and planted, some large trees present before the realization of the complex have been maintained. In some areas where the soil and the plants have been damaged by the gorillas the ground has been filled with compost and mulch, that is also useful for the enrichments (pellets, other food items and artefacts are regularly placed in these areas). Browse materials are disposed on the islands too, it reduces the damages to the trees and other plants. On the islands there are grassy zones that give the Gorillas access to the sun, and also places to isolate from the visitors thanks to the slopes, vegetation and mock rocks blocks with caves.
Finally there are puzzle feeders in the inside and in the outside enclosures.
Management : the vegetation near the electric fences is regularly cut. The maintenance happens during the early morning or in winter months when the primates remain inside (when the air temperature is below 10°C).
Studies on Gorilla behaviour are regularly led in this complex.
Visitor facilities : interactive panels and other signage are disposed in the Gorilla Pavilion about the life of the Gorillas and other apes, and the conservation program led in Rwanda for the rare Mountain Gorillas and supported by the Zoo.
In days with affluence there are patrolling staff around the Gorillas islands to avoid incidents.
Here's the map of the Gorilla House, that hasn't changed since last year :
Indoor enclosure of the Gorilla Pavilion :
(Credits : @twilighter )
Gorilla Island :
(Credits : @Haliaeetus )
Western Lowland Gorilla :
(Credits : @Haliaeetus )
Currently the complex hosts only Western Lowland Gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla (2.4) ; the two bachelor males BAGA and DOGO have been joined by four young females called QUENA, RAYMONDE, SABINE and TITA.
I will describe soon the following exhibits of the Equatorial part of the African Zone, this time dedicated to birds.
Stay in touch !
