Gibbon Exhibit

This is the central exhibit for the region. It is an island habitat for two groups of gibbons, Siamangs and Lar. When one group is outside the other group is in the indoor exhibit. While the islands are not huge the little apes make great use of all the Islands have to offer.

How old is this area of the zoo? I feel that Island of Southeast Asia is a little underwhelming after the many other great sections of this zoo, and that is surprising considering that it is not really that old.

This region is only four years old.

Hey when I saw it just after opening the plants were tiny. They did NOT invest in landscape. Looks much better now. Why in another ten years......

Some people complain that its a little too overgrown. My two favorite regions are North America because there is a ridiculous amount of native veg, and African Forest because in summer you feel like youre in the African Congo with all the native plants (700 species!) Islands does seem to me to be a little overgrown. In fact most of the complaints stated plants were hitting people when they went past them in the boat ride.

My favorite part of Col. Zoo is Asia Quest and the world-class pachyderm building. Of course North America and African Forest are great as well. The Col. Zoo is already a top 5 on many people's lists including mine. In the next five years with the addition of three major exhibits (African Savanna, Polar Frontier, and Tropical Rain forest) this zoo will be competing with San Diego and Bronx for a #1 or #2 slot.

While we rightly look at the quality of an exhibit does it meet the needs of animal,public and keeper. The now established practice of rotating animals between off exhibit areas is of a great concern to me. It is becoming more and more accepted.

Is there maybe a loophole in the best practice guidelines. Not specifing the hours of access required outside of night/indoor/off exhibit areas?

The indoor exhibit isnt off exhibit. If you look at the entry photo you can kinda see the front of the building is harp wire. It is an average indoor enclosure. So all the gibbons are always visible, except in winter. I will give you that the actual off exhibit areas are fairly small. We send most of our primates, gorillas, drills, orangs, and gibbons to the gorilla building during the winter where they have huge amounts of space.

It isnt really anything new and considered an acceptable practice in most if not all zoos.

I first was aware of this with mole rats in a German zoo 25 years ago. I just think it is wrong personally and l am disapointed that it is "acceptable practice".

It is wrong to keep an active species like this in this way.