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Opinion thread - top 5 ape enclosures

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by ShonenJake13, 5 Aug 2017.

  1. ShonenJake13

    ShonenJake13 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Oh look, SJ13 talking about something ape related! What a shocker!

    As the title suggests, anyone else fancy ranking their top five enclosures? We'll go by Twycross rules and say best orangutan, best gorilla, best chimpanzee and best bonobo enclosures.

    Ranking indoors and outdoors separately like I have below is optional, and if you haven't seen five or then rank them anyway! :)

    Here are mine

    Bonobos Inside

    Apenheul
    VdS
    Planckendael
    Twycross

    Bonobos Outside

    VdS
    Apenheul
    Planckendael
    Twycross

    Orangs Inside

    Apenheul
    Chester
    Monkey World
    Colchester
    Pairi Daiza

    Orangs Outside

    Apenheul
    Chester
    Colchester
    Monkey World
    Pairi Daiza

    Gorillas Inside

    Burgers'
    Bristol
    Beekse Bergen
    VdS
    Apenheul

    Gorillas Outside

    Bronx
    Apenheul
    VdS
    Howletts
    Burgers'
    Port Lympne

    Chimps Inside

    Edinburgh
    Burgers'
    Monkey World
    Dierenrijk
    Beekse Bergen

    Chimps Outside

    Burgers'
    VdS
    Edinburgh
    Beekse Bergen
    Monkey World
     
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  2. MagpieGoose

    MagpieGoose Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Nice thread Jake :) Here's my contribution only including ones I've seen in person

    Bonobos Inside


    Twycross

    Bonobos Outside

    Twycross

    Orangs Inside

    Chester
    Blackpool
    Paignton
    Twycross
    Colchester

    Orangs Outside

    Chester
    Paignton
    Monkey World
    Elche
    Colchester

    Gorillas Inside

    Bristol
    Dublin
    London
    Paignton
    Blackpool
    Twycross

    Gorillas Outside

    Dublin
    Longleat (Gorilla Colony, not the island)
    Blackpool
    Paignton
    London

    Chimps Inside

    Edinburgh
    Whipsnade
    Dudley
    Elche
    Monkey World

    Chimps Outside

    Chester
    Monkey World
    Edinburgh
    Elche
    Whipsnade
     
  3. Komodo99

    Komodo99 Well-Known Member

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    I have only seen a few exhibits with these species at this moment in time but should increase in the coming months.

    Species with a Z in brackets will indicate species I have seen during zoo visits while a T will indicate exhibits seen on TV and GM will indicate Google Maps.

    Bonobos
    Unfortunately,I have yet to see these species

    Orangs Inside
    Chester Zoo(Z)(T)
    Zooparc De Beuval(GM)
    Dublin Zoo(T)
    Blackpool(Z)

    Orangs Outside
    Chester(Z)(T)
    Zooparc De Beuval(GM)
    Dublin(T)
    Blackpool(Z)

    Gorillas Indoor
    London(T)(GM)
    Zooparc De Beuval(GM)
    Blackpool(Z)

    Gorillas Outdoor
    Zooparc De Beuval(GM)
    Blackpool(Z)
    London(T)(GM)

    Chimps Indoor
    Welsh Mountain Zoo(Z)
    Chester Zoo(Z)(T)

    Chimps Outdoor
    Chester(Z)(T)
    ZSL Whipsnade(T)(GM)
    Welsh Mountain Zoo(Z)
     
  4. Hyak_II

    Hyak_II Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Time for a North American to chime in!

    Bonobo (outdoors only)

    San Diego
    Ft. Worth

    Chimp (outdoor only)
    Houston
    Dallas
    Oregon
    Honolulu
    Ft. Worth

    Gorilla (Outdoor only)
    Houston
    Dallas
    Woodland Park
    San Diego
    Disney's Animal Kingdom


    Gorilla (indoors)

    Calgary
    Ft.Worth

    Orangutan (Outdoor only)
    Honolulu
    Oregon
    San Diego
    Woodland Park
    Houston

    Orangutan (Indoors)
    Oregon
    Woodland Park
    Ft.Worth
     
  5. marmolady

    marmolady Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I've only seen bonobos at Twycross, but I feel their accommodation is too poor to include on the list, so I'll leave them out.


    Orangutan (Indoors)
    Chester Zoo
    Oregon Zoo
    Monkey World
    Melbourne Zoo
    Woodland Park Zoo

    Orangutan (Outdoors)
    Chester Zoo
    Melbourne Zoo
    Monkey World
    Woodland Park Zoo
    Oregon Zoo



    Gorilla (Indoors)
    Bristol Zoo
    Artis
    Twycross Zoo
    London Zoo
    Melbourne Zoo
    To be honest, this list was difficult, as only Bristol really stood out to me.

    Gorilla (Outdoors)
    Melbourne Zoo
    Woodland Park Zoo
    Werribee Open Range Zoo
    ...a big gap, and then... Bristol Zoo
    London Zoo


    Chimpanzee (Indoors)
    Monarto Zoo
    Monkey World (Hananya's house, not the pavillions)
    ...another big gap... Chester Zoo
    Twycross Zoo
    Again, not all of the examples on the list are rated highly to me; I need to see more great chimp exhibits!

    Chimpanzee (Outdoors)
    Monkey World (Hananya's and Paddy's enclosures)
    Monarto Zoo
    Taronga Zoo
    Chester Zoo
    Oregon Zoo
     
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  6. Zooplantman

    Zooplantman Well-Known Member

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    Only ShonenJake13 lists Bronx Zoo's Congo Gorilla Forest? :eek:
     
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  7. lintworm

    lintworm Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Because he is probably the only one of the bunch who has seen it or at least knows enough of it to list it ;)
     
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  8. Giant Panda

    Giant Panda Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Location:
    UK
    Gorilla:
    Bronx
    Woodland Park
    Howletts
    Dublin
    Blijdorp

    Orangutan:
    Singapore
    Melbourne
    Chester
    Woodland Park
    Denver

    Bonobo:
    Leipzig
    Planckendael
    Frankfurt
    Wilhelma
    Cologne

    Chimpanzee:
    Edinburgh
    Taronga
    Leipzig
    Monkey World
    Munich
     
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  9. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    I wondered when someone might comment on Twycross Bonobos like that- it really isn't very good housing.

    But surprised you included Twycross common Chimpanzee at all. Their current accomodation is substandard and falling to bits( indoor of main house is now sealed off from public access) but finally a new house is under construction- should be good.
     
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  10. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    People are listing Howletts as a good gorilla exhibit? Seriously?
    (Unless they have built a new natural exhibit since I visited in April 2013).
     
  11. ShonenJake13

    ShonenJake13 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Bingo :D can't vouch for Hyuk but I know that MG and soona haven't visited Bronx, and I can guess Komodo hasn't. The thread is your top five you've seen in person ;) otherwise I would have Leipzig and a few others in amongst there too...
     
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  12. ShonenJake13

    ShonenJake13 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    You'd be surprised. Visually the enclosures are ugly, but they're the most used gorilla exhibits and most active I have seen gorillas anywhere, and that includes in Bronx.
     
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  13. Komodo99

    Komodo99 Well-Known Member

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    Never been to America,but I did see The Bronx Zoo on TV,but I have'nt finished watching the series.
     
  14. Hyak_II

    Hyak_II Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Indeed, I only listed the exhibits I have actually seen in person! I've never been much of a fan of ranking things without seeing them in person, first.
     
  15. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    The difference being that at Howletts the covered outdoor enclosures are used as freely as the inside areas- this is the exception to most Gorilla enclosures. Chessington's is modelled on Howletts and their gorillas seem happy to use all of it too- though I believe here they are probably shut outside during opening hours as there is no inside viewing.
     
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  16. pipaluk

    pipaluk Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    My best exhibits seen overall :

    Bonobo - Twycross v Berlin - Twycross

    Orang-utans -Chester (Islands)

    Gorilla - Port Lympne ( Palace of the Apes)

    Chimp - Edinburgh

    My choice is based on the UK plus zoo Berlin though!
     
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  17. ShonenJake13

    ShonenJake13 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Minus the bonobos (can't give Twycross good ratings for the enclosure sadly) I would be with you 100% for UK only.
     
  18. pipaluk

    pipaluk Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Better than Berlin though, which is only other place I've seen Bonobo
     
  19. marmolady

    marmolady Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I haven't seen it in person, otherwise it would probably top my list too. It's not really possible to judge through photos alone, so all my rankings are based on exhibits I've seen personally. My list would be VERY different if it were going by photos too; Bronx, Detroit, Apenheul, Vallee des Singes and Kansas City would all have gotten mentions.
     
  20. Crowthorne

    Crowthorne Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    I've seen them coming and going between their outdoor and indoor areas during opening hours, so don't think they're generally shut out, at least during winter 'Zoo Days'.