Chessington Gorilla Enclosure » Chessington Zoo

Chessington Gorilla Enclosure
14-05-2007

There has been recent condemnation of Chessington Zoo's Gorilla enclosure and they could have their license revoked unless things are improved within a couple of years as it is considered be be overcrowded and basic. In fact its modelled on the successful Howletts cages, is quite spacious(though old) and the group of ten have been very successful- the EEP studbook keeper has recently approved the transfer of a new male into the group and Chessington management say this wouldn't happen if the enclosure was not of a good standard.

The adventure park has plans for a brand new enclosure for Gorillas in its big new Safari-style development but the time frame for this to happen isn't clear.

12-07-2008

Animal Kingdom and Busch gardens have some great gorilla and chimpanzee enclosures

05-11-2008

Found some picture of the proposed extension to the gorilla enclosure with work progressing as we speak

ThemeUK.com - The Chessington Explorer - Features - Other Construction

05-11-2008

It does seem to be on the small side. I watched the video on there web site. The enclosure looks allot better than most.

It would seem that a few zoos have modelled there enclosures on the howletts design.Yet they seem to miss a impotant feature l think. That being the maze of smaller dens that can be configured in many patterns. Allowing the gorillas some time alone and out of sight of each other.

It's hard to see the purpose of the extension at Chessington. It is for off exhibit area to allow for the seperation of the gorillas?

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Stuart R Webster
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06-11-2008

Those photos are from 2007.... They had to build additional dens before they could take on another male (Damisi) who finally arrived earlier this year.

A completely new enclosure on another site is planned for 2010.

06-11-2008

i dont want to be rude but this is rather old news! the new enclosure has been rumored for over two years now! but it will be a great move in the right direction for chessington.

06-11-2008

A new enclosure has actually been rumoured for a lot longer than two years, more like ten... However, (from another thread) it seems it will happen soon.

06-11-2008

Does anyone know if the new exhibit would still be a Howletts style cage?
It seems so much better for them.

06-11-2008

That is a really good question considering the island outdoor enclosures to be a flop.

I just wish a place was brave enough to try something a little more different, large open islands are cheaper to build than large structures to the same floor space similar to howletts. Maybe a decent indoor enlcosure and try somenew outdoors?

06-11-2008

Islands are not bad for gorillas, it just depends what`s in it. Best is an area with lots of vegetation, bushes and some big trees like in La Valle des Singes, Apenheul and Melbourne. If you don`t have such an area to use as gorilla enclosure there are ways to get a similar effect with fast-growing trees and bushes, lits of climbing structures, ropes, and creating of hills. Duisburg Zoo has built a really good gorilla enclosure this way. Just most zoos don`t do enough to fight the "openess".

06-11-2008

I think it's the deep litter straw which is one of the most important things that most zoos don't have. I just seems to keep the Gorillas occupied all the time, weather they be foraging in it or playing with it.

06-11-2008

That is what I was on about, if a zoo built a decent indoor encosure. They could slowly let hardy plants take over an island for the gorillas to use.

Chester did something similar when planting up RORA.

06-11-2008

Exactly. Duisburg's outdoor area looks very good from the photos I've seen- lots of Bamboo and greenery. We can all appreciate when a new exhibit of this type opens, it may look bare as it will take time for vegetation to grow, what's sad is, as you say, when they don't try to counteract the openness. It can be done over time.

Chessington- I believe (from GorillaLady at Chessington on another thread) the plan is for a large moated island but so far no further information. The current enclosure is a close(simplified) copy of the Howlett's design. It is the only such one I can think of (Columbus in USA copied it too but with a 'tennis court' grass floor instead of straw deep litter) and has been equally successful for Chessington's group.

This really is a very functional design but it is not too good for zoos concerned with attractive enclosures- which I guess is why Chessington won't repeat it.

07-11-2008

Ive heard that the enclosure it going to be as big as 5 acres, but that is just speculation