Hybrid Orangutan Exhibit

7th October, 2012

It appears that the large tower, which Jantan (the male) loved using, has been reduced after the chimps moved out and the exhibit was renovated.

I recall seeing far more foliage when I visited Taronga Zoo in 2007, but I forgot just how ugly that rear wall is. While the chimpanzee exhibit has been spectacular for over 30 years I personally feel that both the orangutan and gorilla habitats are underwhelming.

Agree 100%. Despite its age I've yet to see a better Chimpanzee exhibit anywhere.

Yet the Gorilla area is disappointingly small, having been designed originally for just a pair of Giant Panda.

This Orang enclosure is similar to dozens of others, solid timber climbing frames, ugly walls etc, and no better or worse than many others. I do see what looks like an awning over the main area though- that is a sensible innovation to give both cover and shade from the Sun. Would like to see this used more widely in Ape exhiits.

I don't know where this myth came from, but it's incorrect. The gorilla exhibit is on the site of the previous panda and ratite enclosures, but they were razed and the gorilla exhibit was designed from scratch. The size has been dictated by other factors, namely topography and existing roads.

The exhibit also has more climbing platforms and a 'nest' close to the viewing areas. I assume that they are trying to make the orangutans come closer to the public as before they used to sit on top of the big tower under potato sacks. Visitors would often leave after a few seconds as all the orangutans were to them were small orange blobs high up.

Its been variously denied and confirmed by folk on here- I never know which is correct! When I saw this enclosure it did look very much like it had been designed for the Pandas,- rock walls, waterfall and cave.

IMO it is too small for the Gorilla group- an enclosure twice that size would still not be too big for them.

The pandas had brick walls and metal fences, and nowhere near as high as the current gorilla enclosure walls.



Hix

Trouble is, there is not enough room in the zoo to put them unless you knock down some different enclosures. It would be great if eventually Taronga could create a themed African precinct but for the time being nothing much can be done with the new Lemur Forest Adventure being constructed nearby.

There are also only a few spare areas of lawn in the zoo. Most areused as picnic areas, and are probably even smaller than the current gorilla exhibit, so they wouldn't really be ideal. The only way that the gorillas could get a new exhibit is if other enclosures are knocked down, species either sent away or taken off display, and the gorillas relocated in a different part of the zoo.

I don't know the zoo particularly well, but have been twice, and remember some quite large lawns over towards Backyard to Bush, which could become something more useful (although I accept lawns serve many useful purposes).

The map also shows that there is a large empty space in the centre of the zoo, of which Lemur Forest Adventure (worst exhibit name ever?) will only occupy a small area. Could the gorilla enclosure be extended further back up the hill? I think this area is quite steep, which may be an issue for vistors, but wouldn't be too bad for the gorillas.

I would like to see (very eventually) the "Big Cats Trail" turned into the second part of Wild Asia, with a sort of South-east Asia (pre-existing Wild Asia) to India and then finally the Himalayas. This would obviously require some species replacement/transfers, with the major addition of the Orangs to this area. Then a proper African area could be developed, encompassing the existing African Trail, Gorillas, Lemurs (TBC) and additional exhibits replacing the current orangs for Pygmy Hippos, etc. The top part of the zoo, from the alligators to Reptile House, could house the South American collection, with all Australian species kept on the other side of the zoo, where the majority already are.

Many of the lawns are readily used by families for picnics. The one nearby Bsckyard to Bush is probably the most used, along with with the smaller one closer to the bull elephant paddock. There are also lawns used next to the Andean condors for picnics. The rest of any available space is a steep, forested(ish) area that you walk down to get to the bottom entrance/cableway, which is probably way too steep to build upon.

The large, empty space I think you are referring to is a very possible solution to expanding the gorilla exhibit (I didn't really think of it). However, this area includes the orangutan exhibit and indoor dens for orangs, but they could be relocated with a second phase of Wild Asia (if it happens). I guess you proved me wrong, there is room for expansion here!

I would ideally like to see sun bear replace malayan tapir, and add Sumatran tiger, snow leopard, Himalayan thar, orangutan and komodo dragon to Wild Asia. Who knows then with the rest of the zoo! Time will tell!