The Saint Louis Zoo is famous for many, many things. It's where Sea Lions can fly over your head, penguins are within a hand's reach, the hoofstock collection is almost undisputed, and, oh yeah, it's free! All of this and others is what makes Saint Louis such a unique place, but on this episode, we'll talk about just how well they are at keeping their history alive - at the Historic Hill. Three nearly century year-old buildings are still standing and well alive with Reptiles, Birds, and Primates! But sometimes, you have to, as the saying goes, move on and let go of the past. While the Primate House still stands, the zoo used $13 million not for a renovation, but for something completely new. The Primate Canopy Trails was unveiled in the summer of 2021, a positively chaotic 35,000 square foot outdoor expansion. Prior to this project, only a few species had outdoor access while the rest remained in 70's era indoor enclosures. Now EVERY primate has the opportunity to explore the great outdoors within eight meshed habitats, and all of them are connected by overhead tunnels to create an unpredictable rotation. That's over 70 different combinations, so you have no idea where and what you're going to see on your visit! It isn't just a major improvement for it's animals, but it also set out to encourage people to understand the importance of primate's life in the trees, and why a flourishing canopy is significant to all sorts of wildlife. If you like Zoo History, Leaf monkeys jumping all over the walls, baby colobus monkeys, and Lemurs who love to hop, this episode is for you. Enjoy!
