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^Chris^

Gorilla Kingdom

London Zoo's Gorilla Kingdom, March 2008

Gorilla Kingdom
^Chris^, 22 Mar 2008
    • James27
      I wouldn't call it un-naturalistic either, I know it's not wooded but there's a lot of grass and those trees in the back ground are on the island.
      5 Sep 2009
    • Zooplantman
      Do they use these trees much?

      Is the hot wire in front still there? I see there's hot wire fence in the rear of the picture as well
      14 Jun 2010
    • Little Lion Man
      They do use the trees they are often seen half way up and watching what's going on around the enclosure and swing from the ropes. Colobus monkeys where also suppose to share the island which would have increased the use more however they escaped and the colobus breeding and the introduction of a new silverback which unfortunately died since being introduced seems to have stopped ZSL mixing the species however I hope they try again soon.

      The hotwire has been moved as the grass has established and is now at the waters edge.
      14 Jun 2010
    • Paix
      I dont know much about Gorrilla's but from this photo, the enclosure looks pritty good, is it? Has it got so many tree's now, could someone fill me in with Gorilla exhibit quality and Gorilla enclosure requirements?
      15 Jun 2010
    • Zooplantman
      15 Jun 2010
    • johnstoni
      The main planted areas to the right and rear of this photograph have always been cordoned off by a 4ft high electric fence. I imagine in a few years it may be possible for the gorillas to reach and pick various foliage to eat, as most of these plants were designed to be of use to the gorillas, yet for now they are not accessible to them:

      London Zoo - near the Gorilla Kingdom - stream on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

      The foreground and the moat area that leads up to the house on the other side of the island did have some hotwire almost designed to look like grasses, it is not clear whether these remain as the area you see newly-turfed in this photograph is now very well-established and looks like this:

      London Zoo - on the way to Gorilla Kingdom on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
      Gorilla Kingdom on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
      16 Jun 2010
    • Zooplantman
      @johnstoni, thank-you
      I had assumed from this photo that the "hot grass" (as it is called commercially) was to protect the new sod (as it is called in the US :) ). But hot grass is more expensive than electric fence so it may be intended to remain as a way to keep the gorillas from the water (is the moat deep or is it just a shallow stream?)
      16 Jun 2010
    • Pertinax
      16 Jun 2010
    • johnstoni
      The artificial stream in the first link feeds the moat that goes round the edge of the outdoor exhibit with the exception of the glass viewing gallery and indoor quarters (these are glass and brick walls respectively as you can see from photographs). I believe the gorillas still have access to this stream.

      This photoset gives you a good idea of how the moat was constructed:
      Gorilla Kingdom - a set on Flickr

      This is the effect now, at least in summer and autumn:
      http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/4013649301_bccf477bc7.jpg
      19 Jun 2010
    • Shirokuma
      The hot grass is still there but it's well hidden by the more established vegetation by the water.
      19 Jun 2010
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    ZSL London Zoo
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    ^Chris^
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