Join our zoo community
devilfish

Gorilla Kingdom

A view of the moat, colobus entry point and indoor viewing windows. Photo taken on the 26th of May, 2009.

Gorilla Kingdom
    • Pertinax
      I am not sure on this but I think its so 'fat' because the Colobus monkeys were supposed to access the Gorilla enclosure through the inside of this tree somehow(?).

      Thats also the reason there's only one fake tree in the enclosure- its for the Colobus to use- or it was until the whole idea seemed to flop.
    • Zooplantman
      Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado, US

      It looks even worse in person. More potato than baobab.
    • Zooplantman
      I can understand how function needs to be accommodated in such a thing, but if the result looks like psychedelic sculpture than perhaps a different design ought to have been looked at.
      Even so, any single mega-fake tree is going to look especially false all alone in a meadow. So that is a design issue that needs solving as well.

      And it should be said that a realistic looking large fake tree is quite expensive. It requires a team of excellent craftsmen and women and sculptors.
    • Pertinax
      I'm not defending it. I was quite shocked when I saw it first appear in what was heavily publicised as a 'natural' habitat- I am really surprised the Authorities at the zoo accepted it in the design and didn't push for a better alternative- or that its still standing now.
    • Zooplantman
      No no, I knew you weren't defending it.

      But it gives me an idea:
      Maybe we should start a thread or gallery for Worst Fake Zoo Trees, and one for Most Absurd Zoo Waterfalls ;)

      We could have fun with that!
    • reduakari
      There are two very strong contenders already displayed in this thread! Ugh.

      But the walk-through "tree" at Oregon Zoo's new Orang/gibbon exhibit is a serious competitor as well:

      http://www.zoochat.com/594/red-ape-reserve-construction-133503/

      This monstrosity, in the same zoo with the beautiful replications of Cascade mountain and coastal sandstone geology...who's minding the store?????
    • Zooplantman
      Yes! The Sea Anemone Tree! I forgot that one
    • Jabiru96
      HAHA. Nice description ;)

      Thanks BTW
    • Pertinax
      Or maybe Fake Rock walls and Boulders too? But we all know which (UK) Zoo would win that one by miles.....:D:D
    • Ituri
      Just a guess, but someone who's more concerned with the budget, than with delivering a quality educational experience.
    There are no comments to display.
  • Category:
    ZSL London Zoo
    Uploaded By:
    devilfish
    Date:
    6 Jun 2009
    View Count:
    2,914
    Comment Count:
    20

    EXIF Data

    File Size:
    228.4 KB
    Mime Type:
    image/jpeg
    Width:
    1600px
    Height:
    1200px
    Aperture:
    f/2.8
    Make:
    Sony Ericsson
    Model:
    C902
    Date / Time:
    2009:05:26 14:14:02
    Exposure Time:
    1/250 sec
    ISO Speed Rating:
    ISO 64
    Focal Length:
    5.18 mm
     

    Note: EXIF data is stored on valid file types when a photo is uploaded. The photo may have been manipulated since upload (rotated, flipped, cropped etc).