You should add Leipzig to your poll. It is the best I've ever seen. Lots of big live trees, some accessible to the orangs and the gibbon who shares their forest.
Haha, what a coincidence. I had it on the poll but took it off because 1. I ran out of room and 2. As I was going through each one, I saw one's that were getting better and better than Leipzig's. I'll try to add it.
I've voted for Melbourne Zoo as it's one of only two on the list that I've personally visited. I love the climbing opportunities available in Melbourne's exhibit, it's great to watch the orangs use the sway poles. I've also been to Adelaide Zoo's, but it seems rather open and I'd prefer more vertical climbing space, but I still think it's pretty good. I believe it is being renovated at the moment.
Never seen any of those on the list [we can't all afford to travel], but I would agree Paignton is good. However, I prefer Durrell [Jersey Zoo]. Plenty of varied outdoor climbing opportunities, very high indoor accommodation, plenty of room indoors for individual animals to be isolated if necessary, and still have interesting space. Good interpretive matierial with a conservation message, superb planting, opportunities for the Orangs to interact with Gibbons. Also, and I'm admittedly biased here, a particularly charming alpha male Orang.
I saw this a couple of weeks ago on jack hanna's saturday show. Singapore has a awesome orangutan exhibit. I agree with Hadrada on that one
Would really love to be able to vote on this but seeing as none of the 4 that I consider to be the best are listed,I will not.Just a pity the list is so USA heavy its alomost saying that if a zoo isn't in the USA it isn't any good.Because looking at the photos I have seen of the collections listed I would rate Chester,Frankfurt,Leipzig and Alpenhaul as equal to all of those listed with Dortmund not far behind! Just a quick bit more this poll would have worked alot better to me if it had been split into 3 zones The USA,Europe and Asia and Australisa.
Ragunan (Schmutzer Primate Center) wins hands down IMO, both in terms of size and how naturalistic it is. You can see the photos here: Ragunan Zoo Gallery And surely Singapore deserves a spot on the list?
I didn't see Singapore in person, but I suppose it wins hands down. Which other zoo lets orangutans climb real trees, over heads of visitors, keeps over 20 individuals and has time for contact session for visitors?
I know it's not on the list and I haven't seen it in person, but I'd have to go with Singapore as well.
technically the Schmutzer Primate Centre is not the same establishment as Ragunan Zoo, it is just situated within the grounds. The primate cages in the Ragunan Zoo itself are all bare concrete and bars.
Ooh, that's a toughie. I, too, believe that Singapore should be up here, but I'm deciding on those that are on the list. I'm stuck between Prague and Woodland Park Zoo. Prague's exhibit isn't all-that visually appealing, although zoo exhibits aren't always made for the betterment of the guests; it has a staggering amount of climbing structures. Woodland Park's, however, has denser foliage, allowing the orangutans to hide away for privacy if they need to. I'll go with WPZ.
I saw Singapore's some years ago- not overly impressed as it was(then) concrete(or at any rate a hard surface)) though it may have changed a lot since? I think 20 orangs is too many as I think quite a number of these must be living together which isn't natural for them. I don't think 'contact sessions' with visitors is necessarily good for the animals either. There is(or was) also something advertised as 'breakfast with an Orangutan' which sounds like a commercial venture in which one or more of the apes take part. It used to be the female 'Ah-meh'.
