Great to hear the high canopy habitat for the apes is now compete! It'll be exciting to see them on the high ropes. I've seen photos of the orangutans in what was initially the Siamang exhibit for this precinct, suggesting they now rotate use of these two main exhibit spaces. Access to the high ropes will allow even more permutations. Down the line, there could even be opportunities for Siamang and orang-utan to share exhibit space, though I don't believe that's the plan at this stage.
It has now been properly confirmed by the zoo - the aerial ropes and pathways are now officially completed and the orangutans have full access to them now. In early 2021, the siamangs will also be introduced to this aerial network. Log into Facebook | Facebook Additional video showing the orangs using the high ropes:
2020 Recap It's certainly been an eventful year for the zoo. Here's a summary of the key events: Births: Janaury - 1.1 Cape porcupines (first birth of this species at the zoo) March - Emperor tamarin (first birth of this species at the zoo) May - 1.0 Capybara pup July - 1.1 Golden lion tamarins successfully (a New Zealand first) August - 0.1 Southern white rhinoceros (Nyah) September - 3.2 Oriental small-clawed otters (third litter to breeding pair) September - 0.1 Hamadryas baboon infant (first in five years) Other births include several Chevron skinks, Cobble skinks, Brown teal, Orange-fronted kakarikis, Bolivian squirrel monkeys and nyala. Arrivals: February - 1.0 giraffe (Billy) from Australia Zoo November - 1.1 Brolga from Hamilton Zoo Other arrivals include a female Emu and four Waterbuck. Deaths: February - female Brolga and chick March - New Zealand fur seal (Kaioko) - the last of his species at the zoo March - Plains zebra colt (euthanised) Other notable events: Opening of Phase 1 of the South East Asia precinct (The Canopy) Zoo announces their decision to phase out their elephants after 97 years Zoo closes for an extended period during the COVID-19 pandemic
