Triple Grotto Renovation - When? and What?

Since I didn't get to this post promptly, its now been two weeks since I wrote about the Sad Chimp situation.  The day after I posted, the Chimps were out, and have had access to the yard consistently since then.  Their demeanor has changed, their spirit is back to being bright and no matter what the weather, they have been making use of the yard all day long.  I am beyond happy they are being able to use the yard, a yard that was built for them.  That said, while I'm happy for the Chimps, I'm sad for the Orangutans.  

The Orangutans have access to the trails and their inside bedrooms, in the Triple Grotto building.  Ollie/male likes the trails, but Amoi/female likes to be allowed everywhere.  She has never made much use of the yard, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have access to one of their own.  They can't stay in the trails only indefinitely.  The other day she was staring at the Chimps in the yard, probably wondering why they were in her yard.  She doesn't know that was never really intended to be her exclusive yard.  

Note that when she has access to the yard, the Chimps have to stay inside. That is what happened those seven weeks.  They can't even have access to a trail, or at least haven't to date.

For now, let's just concentrate on this one fact,  Rotating the Orangutans and Chimpanzees was never a viable option, as long as Triple Grotto was not in play.  

As I noted in my previous post, it has been five years minimum, that Director Tanya Peterson has known she planned to acquire Orangutans.  There is absolutely no reason, other than bad management on her part, that plans and funds were not in place to have a proper yard for the Orangutans before, or soon after their arrival.  To date there is allegedly still no plan, and no funds. 

In my opinion, Triple Grotto is a focal point in the Zoo.  After the path view of part of Lemurs, its the first main enclosure you see.   Its a huge area.  Its next to the Cafe.  It needs to be a priority for the Animals, as well for the aesthetics of the Zoo.  It looks bad to have it just sitting there, overgrown, downtrodden, and vacant.  Its just super bad planning to have left it there to languish.

Triple Grotto attaches to the two new areas, via Skytrails that lead from the north and south sides of the existing Triple Grotto building, the current bedrooms for the Orangutans.  The Skytrails link into the new areas.  The north trail (long) to the Pachyderm Building, which houses the Chimps Bedrooms and their Dayroom.  The south trail (short) goes directly into the new yard.  An excellent job was done on both the Dayroom and Yard.  It turned out impressive.  Every visit I hear people comment about it.  Quotes I've noted, "obsessed with it", "its literally my favorite place", "love it here", "amazing", "cool".  ...  The whole area was named the Great Ape Passage.  Triple Grotto is intended to be a part of that. It needs to be done, and it needs to be done in a way that reflects the new areas.   As noted in my previous post, I heard that only one of the Grotto's might be done.  That's ridiculous.  They can't just slap some cheap fix to it.  Its lame to have wonderful new areas, and not renovate Triple Grotto to complete that.  Again, THIS needed to be done before the Orangutans got here.  

Since nothing has been done, nothing looks like its happening anytime soon, let's look at these facts.

By the end of this month we will have seven Chimpanzees.  The Chimps need both the Dayroom and the Yard, as intended.  Everyone knows this.  Why doesn't Director Peterson and her pack of Donors understand this?  Not having this already done, and not moving forward with it right now, shows not only bad Management but a severe lack of caring for all the Apes involved.  The Chimps have already suffered those seven weeks locked in, how long will the Orangutans suffer with no yard of their own?

Let's address the main issue, When can the Orangutans expect a yard in Triple Grotto?

In my opinion, as stated, a Triple Grotto renovation, needs to be as impressive as the Dayroom and new Yard.  It completes the Great Ape Passage.  Doing that, will take time, too much time.

There needs to be a faster solution, because the Orangutans need a yard.  They needed a yard two months ago.  Rotating two species only works if there are two yards. Period.  

I have expressed my ideas about what to do at Triple Grotto, even as far back as my crusade for them in 2015, possibly even before.  I have always thought they needed more topical area, so my original ideas, are still in play today, as I think about the additional yard space in Triple Grotto.  Going back to notations I made previously, any management plan to limit the renovation to only one Grotto, is ridiculous.  Both the North and Middle Grotto need a dedicated redo that is suited for both the Orangutans and Chimpanzees.  As then and only then will rotating these two species work.

I have maintained for years that filling in the moat, needs to be part of any plan.  Using just the islands stand alone is a waste of space.  I think connecting the two Grottos to make one large topical space would be the best idea.  Here are examples, of both just connecting and using the islands, and with using the moat areas.  The most topical space, in my opinion, the better.  Especially if they are going to rotate and we have seven Chimps!

Dark green center connects just islands.

All green is topical space 

including islands with

moats filled in.

I also would like to see some landscaping in the space.  I have always wanted to see these Friends have grass and low bushes.  After seeing the Dayroom and Yard, even more I would like to see this as it is a completely different surface to what they have in the Dayroom and Yard.  I think it would be enriching to have something different.  I did some research and found these photos unfortunately I didn't note what Zoo this was from or the source.  

Chimps having a good time in greenery!

Full view of exhibit. High trees and structure are unnecessary, or can be added as determined by the Curator.  I'd like to see the Twigging mound stay or new one built, either in Triple Grotto or new Yard, since the Chimps, especially the Girls, like Twigging.

Going back a couple paragraphs, there needs to be a faster solution.  In my opinion, there is no other option than to renovate the North and Middle Grotto as part of the Great Ape Passage.  That leaves South Grotto.   There are many things that South Grotto can be used for in the future, but right now, I think it needs to be made into a temporary yard for the Orangutans. 

If structurally doable, South Grotto can be netted over at the edge of the moat (purple ring) and at minimum, that would be enough for now.  The Orangutans can have access to that island yard, which would be enough for them until the North and Middle Grottos were renovated.  After that, the moat could be filled in or left as is for another use.  Housing another Primate species, temporary holding, whatever.  

I want to note that the very first thing that needs to be done, and done right, is painting the Triple Grotto building!  I have been complaining about the peeling paint for seven plus years.  That building has not been painted in over a decade, probably two. It has looked bad for as long as I can remember, and is probably a health hazard.  The peeling paint most likely contains lead.  A couple years ago, I took and posted photos of Minnie sticking her finger in the chipped area and then in her mouth.  No one cared to do anything about.  At the very least it should have been primed to seal those peeling edges and painted over.  At the very least that needs to be done now.  I think considering there will be netting over the Grottos (hopefully deterring any picking at paint that might come loose in the future), regardless of plans, possibly sealing and painting is the best plan of action.  I  remember hearing of another Animal home that had lead paint and allegedly the proper protocol for handling that was not followed.  So, sealing it, rather than sanding and scraping and making a big unhealthy mess, would be best. 

I can't do much more about this situation.  I've documented everything.  I've given suggestions.  It's on Director Peterson to get this done, NOW.  ... You wanted Orangutans.  Give them what they need!

Previous Related Post:
http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/08/chimps-havent-been-outside-in-almost.html

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