Apenheul / Monkeypark Apeldoorn (NL) Orangutan

The weird looking (Bornean) Orangutan exhibit in de apenheul. It is mostly divided into 3 large outdoor enclosures. But they can change the waterlevel around the islands, creating more or less separate enclosures.

As You said it looks like a bit weird...but the use of this technic (changing the waterlevel) sounds very interesting. Do they apply this technic at any other enclosure? Or do You have ever seen something similar in an other zoo?

It is the only enclosure of its type in the apenheul. And i've never heared that other zoos use this mechanism as well. So it's unique to my knowledge

I think that this exhibit is very cleverly designed in many respects. I had not heard of the interchangeable water levels but that means they can seperate or join the islands up according to how they need to keep the animals. I think the use of the very small land surface coupled with the angled climbing poles is another good design.