Taronga Zoo Update on Taronga's Overseas Gorilla Troop

[Jabiru96]

Absolutely. although unfortunately both the pygmy hippo enclosures are now empty, there is still an mandrill exhibit and the treetop monkey and apes exhibits as part of the gorilla rainforest trail.

That is great then! It seems that I will really enjoy Melbourne Zoo, now i can't wait!

 

[MRJ]

Haven't bored me in the slightest.

Would that be David Hancocks?

The right and wrong ways to zoo it - Opinion - smh.com.au

Correct. He did a series of articles for "Landscape Australia" at the time he drew up the Melbourne masterplan which makes a great primer for enclosure design, not that I've been in a position to implement many of his ideas yet (cost always being a factor).

His book on zoo design, "A Different Nature", is also excellent and well worth a read.

 

[Pertinax]

Im sorry, but the other exhibits are most certainly all part of the same path. Feel free to check out the MZ map on their website.

I can see what you mean. My memory doesn't serve me so well- it was 15 years go since my last visit. It doesn't change my original opinion though that viewing of the actual Gorilla enclosure was restricted to very limited areas; 1. as you first enter the path by the old Grottoes, 2. the bay window area(by far the best place)3. the researcher hut & 4. the bay window on the other side of the enclosure. Maybe there is a bit more now.

 

[peacock]

I can see what you mean. My memory doesn't serve me so well- it was 15 years go since my last visit. It doesn't change my original opinion though that viewing of the actual Gorilla enclosure was restricted to very limited areas; 1. as you first enter the path by the old Grottoes, 2. the bay window area(by far the best place)3. the researcher hut & 4. the bay window on the other side of the enclosure. Maybe there is a bit more now.

The area as you first enter (1.) has been significantly cleared of vegetation and the path re routed to make a much larger, more open viewing area. If you are interested there are some good photos in the gallery. There is also a second similarly sized viewing area on the opposite side (that has always been there). There is actually 5 viewing areas - two looking directly in over the wall, two at windows and the view form the hut.

Still you must have had particularly bad luck when you were there - the gorillas are almost always hanging around right at the first window whenever I am there.

Ultimately though, I think we might just have slightly different tastes in exhibit design.

 

[Pertinax]

There is actually 5 viewing areas - two looking directly in over the wall, two at windows and the view form the hut.

Ultimately though, I think we might just have slightly different tastes in exhibit design.

It sounds as if they have increased the areas you can view from since I was there. We probably differ in our preferences too.

I should get this thread back on track now as its supposed to be about Taronga Gorillas overseas and its my fault it was diverted.

 

[Pertinax]

There is actually 5 viewing areas - two looking directly in over the wall, two at windows and the view form the hut.

Ultimately though, I think we might just have slightly different tastes in exhibit design.

It sounds as if they have increased the areas you can view from since I was there. We probably differ in our preferences too.

I should get this thread back on track now as its supposed to be about Taronga Gorillas overseas and its my fault it was diverted.