Does anyone know if work has started on the new exhibit for the Gorilla's, and if they have any details on how the exhibit will look.
Work will be phased over three years. It is going to occupy the old rhino paddock. the rhino have moved into a mixed exhibit with zebra, oryx, ostrich and giraffe. Due to the financial trouble that Ireland is in at the moment the work is being staggered. This year will see the place being planted. When the gorillas finally take up residence it will hopefully be quite mature. I believe the plans are to resemble a marshy habitat from the congo with moats disguised as marshes. The old Gorilla habitat has had some improvements recently and doesnt look as bad but still it will be nice to see them in the new habitat! Hopefully they will start breeding again then.
I hadn't realised it was going to take so long to build this- but this may be due to financial constraints as you say, and not the original plan. Six gorillas in the old house may be a bit of a crowd particularly as the oldest son 'Kesho' is growing up now. Any plans for him to be removed?
I think he will have to be moved on before the new house is complete which is a shame. He is agile enough to get out of Harrys (the silver back) way at the moment but as he gets older there will be trouble.
I hope a place can be found for Kesho somewhere as a breeding male- he is perfectly socialised and mother-reared and Lena's line is not overly represented in the population. Marwell are planning to start a bachelor group but I would prefer to see him found a breeding group at somewhere like Chester perhaps.
Yeah he is a handsome young male, he will make a great silverback one day, he was present for the birth of the babies and their rearing as well as the introduction of another female into the group. He will be very well stable!
I do like to see a male of Kesho's age still living in his family/natal group with his parents and younger brothers. It is far more natural than joining a 'bacheor' group at a younger age. It is not often possible (for various reasons) but this allows a male to better develop a full range of social skills as he is almost adult before he leaves.
Has anyone been up recently cause I'm curious to know what stage the new exhibit is in now. I may be heading up next week so I'll see if I can take a few snaps of whats been done so far. Is there any plans for a new animal to move into the old gorilla enclosure?
Uh......we already know that. It was posted over a year ago surely? Interested to know what stage it's at now.
Its the same information but has evidently been updated/rereleased as Kesho (now at London) isn't mentioned now... I am not sure which 'September' is being referred to now- this year or next. Has starting work on it slipped back a year?
its an item released yesterday on several different news feeds. I don't keep up with Irish zoo news, and I take no responsibility for the abilities of the media So does that mean the line "The two million euro year-long development is scheduled to start in September next year" is actually referring to September this year then?
hmm.....still seems very similar to one release quite a while ago. I think construction has already been started because an area has actually been blocked off last time I was there....Easter this year I think
It seems in this re-release that they bothered to update the Gorilla grouping but perhaps not the timeframe? We need Dirty Harry to clarify.....
Pertinax, I suppose we do! I checked the Dublin Zoo website, but alas that did not give a clue either. K.B.
gorilla's The new gorilla exhibit will not start until september next year,there has been a delay of about 1year,no work has started on the area.It will be totally funded by Dublin zoo,the goverment support money will finish after the bull house is done,that will start in the next few weeks,hopefully bull will be in place for june
Has any one got a copy of Dublin Zoos 'Zoo Matters' magazine as on the front cover its states there is news on 'Gorilla Rainforest' exhibit. That could give me some more information.
It would be nice to have a pdf-scanned version of that passed on here (when someone gets a copy ...).
