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Goodies Do the Funky Gibbon House

19 February 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970
 

Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire has officially opened one of the largest gibbon facilities in Europe in its most ambitious development to date – Gibbon Forest.

 Covering approximately 4,000sq.m , Gibbon Forest is 10 times larger than the primates’ previous enclosure and is specially designed to replicate the natural forest environment of gibbons as well as provide funky new experience for visitors.

The £2 million development marks the latest phase in the zoo's £55 million capital investment programme and comprises a central building, 7m in height (2 storeys) which will raise visitors up for a closer view of the gibbons, while outside, people will also be able to observe gibbon families calling and swinging across the four islands surrounded by moats.

Twycross Zoo boasts that it has the most diverse collection of gibbons in the UK and Gibbon Forest will house the zoo's four different species - Agile, Pileated, Siamang and Northern White-cheeked - all of which are endangered in the wild.

It is also claimed to be the only zoo in the UK and one of four worldwide, to house all four types of great ape (gorillas, orangutans, bonobos and chimpanzees). 

The design of this new habitat has been informed by the specialist knowledge and experience of the team of primate experts working at Twycross Zoo. Special features adapted for the animals include a steel mesh ceiling from which keepers can feed the gibbons, encouraging their natural behaviour of finding food high in the tree tops. 

Each of the building's four pods, one for each gibbon species at the zoo, has a special bio-floor made of composting mulch. Properly maintained, this mulched floor will act like a natural soil and as it biodegrades, it will generate high humidity levels which are beneficial for the gibbons.

“As an architect, it is a real challenge to be faced with the prospect of designing facilities for multiple end users, especially when one of them is unable to speak for themselves,” explained Stuart Curran, Associate Partner, Weedon Architects. “Of the utmost importance was creating an environment that provides Twycross Zoo’s gibbon groups with the maximum space and opportunity to exhibit natural behaviour. The site layout, along with current strategic planting and landscaping, has been designed to benefit both gibbons and visitors by giving a naturalistic habitat for the gibbons, while minimising the effect of visitors’ physical presence, allowing for an immersive, but non-intrusive experience.”

Other recent developments at Twycross Zoo include Giraffe Savannah, heralding the return of giraffes to the zoo earlier last year, Elephant Creek with immersive walkthroughs with lemurs, lorikeets and butterflies, the largest children’s water-play area in Leicestershire, an extension to the orangutan house and a new café.

twycrosszoo.org/gibbon-forest/

Picture: The new Gibbon House at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire is 10 times bigger than the previous area and allows a more natural habitat for the athletic apes

Article written by Mike Gannon | Published 19 February 2016

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