Yorkshire Wildlife Park Proposed Gorilla Exhibit

YWP is a zoo I've been wanting to visit for years, and I like the sound of this possible gorilla enclosure. I was planning a trip next Summer, but I may put it off until the gorilla enclosure is done.
 
I believe its now criteria to have facilities for both a breeding group of gorillas and bachelor group for collections which house a breeding group, the legislation for housing gorillas has changed recently so a lot of collections will have to upgrade their enclosures. Ive heard whispers of bonobos from a friend who worked at Yorkshire so these could be a possibility?
 
I was thinking if the ‘golf’ tag is referring to gorillas alone given the size of the proposed facility, I know ywp like large enclosures but was wondering if the ‘g’ in golf be gorillas the ‘o’ could be orangutans the ‘l’ possibly lemurs ( though they already have a good walk through ) and the ‘f’ be facility this would also make sense of them not having a adjoining door to the two main sides of the house and I wouldn’t be surprised if they only had a bachelor group of animals anyways as it’s probably more needed than more breeding groups and they do bachelor groups rather well in other species at the park. On the other hand if they where after a breeding group of gorillas would Bristol’s group be an option as I haven’t heard of wild place submitting any plans as yet for a new gorillas enclosure and would think the stud book would need to make exceptions to the rules if a zoo is to take on a whole group of gorillas from a closing zoo.
 
J C said:
I was thinking if the ‘golf’ tag is referring to gorillas alone given the size of the proposed facility, I know ywp like large enclosures but was wondering if the ‘g’ in golf be gorillas the ‘o’ could be orangutans the ‘l’ possibly lemurs ( though they already have a good walk through ) and the ‘f’ be facility this would also make sense of them not having a adjoining door to the two main sides of the house and I wouldn’t be surprised if they only had a bachelor group of animals anyways as it’s probably more needed than more breeding groups and they do bachelor groups rather well in other species at the park. On the other hand if they where after a breeding group of gorillas would Bristol’s group be an option as I haven’t heard of wild place submitting any plans as yet for a new gorillas enclosure and would think the stud book would need to make exceptions to the rules if a zoo is to take on a whole group of gorillas from a closing zoo.
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Is it not more likely that 'GOLF' stands for 'Gorillas of the Lowland Forest' or something of that ilk?

Bristol's planning applications for the future of the Wild Place site are expected to be submitted next Spring according to the website: Strategy to 2035
 
Rajang21 said:
Is it not more likely that 'GOLF' stands for 'Gorillas of the Lowland Forest' or something of that ilk?
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Or that it's a straight-up code word with no other significance - note that the hyaena enclosure is referred to as 'SPOT RESERVE' on one of the plans. I think they just had handy code names for each one - some more or less cryptic as needed!
 
J C said:
. On the other hand if they where after a breeding group of gorillas would Bristol’s group be an option as I haven’t heard of wild place submitting any plans as yet for a new gorillas enclosure and would think the stud book would need to make exceptions to the rules if a zoo is to take on a whole group of gorillas from a closing zoo.
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I'm sure Bristol will never part with their gorilla group- its one of their most iconic species. I believe they have already indicated they will be moving to Wild Place and would be very surprised if things turned out contrary to that.

Male gorillas and an orangutan group(or even bonobos) is of course another possibilty for the apparently two seperate enclosures planned at a YWP, rather than two gorilla groups. Only time will tell.
 
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J C said:
I was thinking if the ‘golf’ tag is referring to gorillas alone given the size of the proposed facility, I know ywp like large enclosures but was wondering if the ‘g’ in golf be gorillas the ‘o’ could be orangutans the ‘l’ possibly lemurs ( though they already have a good walk through ) and the ‘f’ be facility this would also make sense of them not having a adjoining door to the two main sides of the house and I wouldn’t be surprised if they only had a bachelor group of animals anyways as it’s probably more needed than more breeding groups and they do bachelor groups rather well in other species at the park. On the other hand if they where after a breeding group of gorillas would Bristol’s group be an option as I haven’t heard of wild place submitting any plans as yet for a new gorillas enclosure and would think the stud book would need to make exceptions to the rules if a zoo is to take on a whole group of gorillas from a closing zoo.
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would not be surprised if it is just the NATO phonetic for G for gorillas…
 
Maguari said:
Or that it's a straight-up code word with no other significance - note that the hyaena enclosure is referred to as 'SPOT RESERVE' on one of the plans. I think they just had handy code names for each one - some more or less cryptic as needed!
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Well they do have SPOTted hyena... :p
 
Can't think about orang-utans as the general design of the exhibit (indoor and outdoor) not look like for a such species. The same for the visitors viewing (on the ground even for the building).

Bonobos could be possible but I still think about gorillas (the most iconic ape for the public).
 
Antoine said:
Can't think about orang-utans as the general design of the exhibit (indoor and outdoor) not look like for a such species. The same for the visitors viewing (on the ground even for the building).

Bonobos could be possible but I still think about gorillas (the most iconic ape for the public).
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A Height of something of 4 metres is quite low for bonobo's. Also for orangs.
The doors of the animals are on ground level. So it looks like a ground dwelling primate.
Gorilla will be a candidate.
 
J C said:
I was thinking if the ‘golf’ tag is referring to gorillas alone given the size of the proposed facility, I know ywp like large enclosures but was wondering if the ‘g’ in golf be gorillas the ‘o’ could be orangutans the ‘l’ possibly lemurs ( though they already have a good walk through ) and the ‘f’ be facility this would also make sense of them not having a adjoining door to the two main sides of the house and I wouldn’t be surprised if they only had a bachelor group of animals anyways as it’s probably more needed than more breeding groups and they do bachelor groups rather well in other species at the park. On the other hand if they where after a breeding group of gorillas would Bristol’s group be an option as I haven’t heard of wild place submitting any plans as yet for a new gorillas enclosure and would think the stud book would need to make exceptions to the rules if a zoo is to take on a whole group of gorillas from a closing zoo.
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Possibly Gorilla Orangutan Love Forever :D
 
gentle lemur said:
Thank you for posting the link to these plans. I did wonder if they would show an 18 hole course, a 9 hole course or would it just be Crazy Golf? ;)
To be serious, this does look like a gorilla complex. One the western side, the larger outdoor enclosure joins to a double indoor section (the rear one also seems to connect to another walled off-show outdoor area), which I presume is designed for a breeding group. On the eastern side the enclosures are rather smaller, perhaps for a bachelor group. I presume that the Studbook keeper is making it a condition that the Park must hold similar numbers of males and females. The design ensures that the animals in the 2 groups will not be able to see each other, and I expect the little island beside the public gallery will be planted to make a visual screen. There does not seem to be any outdoor access for the two smaller on-show enclosures between the large ones (although a passage over the gallery to that island could be added). They could be used as areas for guenons or other monkeys if they plan to run them with the gorillas.
The paddock in the centre of the complex is labelled for bongo, and the paired paddocks in the south are labelled 'Havana reserves'. I don't get any clues from that name, but I note that they both have pools which makes me wonder about pygmy hippos.
I think the planning process seems to be at a relatively early stage, so it might well take rather longer than 18 months to develope, build, furnish and stock this complex.
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@gentle lemur maybe YWP are planning a Crazy Golf Course,in which players wear Gorilla Fancy Dress costumes while playing. Alternatively YWP might build a Golf course in the Gorilla enclosure as enrichment.
 
I’ve heard that this project has been cancelled. Not certain but when I looked at the plans the animal house was definitely for a large primate, much like the orangutan house at Chester.
 
Pertinax said:
I'm sure Bristol will never part with their gorilla group- its one of their most iconic species. I believe they have already indicated they will be moving to Wild Place and would be very surprised if things turned out contrary to that.

Male gorillas and an orangutan group(or even bonobos) is of course another possibilty for the apparently two seperate enclosures planned at a YWP, rather than two gorilla groups. Only time will tell.
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However, Afia and Ayana will reach maturity soon so they’re is possibility that at least one of them could go there and be part of a breeding group
 
Charles said:
However, Afia and Ayana will reach maturity soon so they’re is possibility that at least one of them could go there and be part of a breeding group
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Afia and Ayana have some years yet before any transfer is likely- 8 or 9 is the usual age.
Blackpool Zoo however have two young females older than Bristol's, that are still in their natal group. But its unclear if Yorkshire WP are still planning for gorillas or not.
 
Pertinax said:
Afia and Ayana have some years yet before any transfer is likely- 8 or 9 is the usual age.
Blackpool Zoo however have two young females older than Bristol's, that are still in their natal group. But its unclear if Yorkshire WP are still planning for gorillas or not.
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Afia is 8 and by the time they move to a new collection so will ayana
 
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