I've written many posts about the plight of the Orangutans since their arrival at the Zoo in April 2019. ... Most recently right before the Zoo ReOpened.
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2021/01/new-will-2021-be-year-that-orangutans.html
In addition to hoping to see change in protection at the Great Ape Passage Yard (see previous post), I was anxious to see if there was anything new happening at Triple Grotto for the Orangutans.
Like with my previous update, I had planned this soon after reopening, and just now getting to it. Initially, there was just wood "fencing" around the perimeter. That was taken down a week later to reveal a heightened wall. That change in barrier goes with what the architect told me about the renovation basically being a project that brings the space up to code.
Over the last couple weeks there has been an addition, that I couldn't quite figure out. I was able to ask one of the workers and was told it will be a bridge to link the two grottos. This still didn't look clear as of last week. So, it's a wait and see. I was also told there would be some structure additions, and that it should all be done in three weeks.
Looking forward to the finished project, though I'm not holding my breath for anything great. I still believe the optimum use of space would have been to fill in the moats and net it over. I felt that way even before the Great Ape Passage formed at the Pachyderm Building, but now even more after seeing how much Amoi the female Orangutan loves climbing the netting. It's almost the only thing she does when she's in the yard. Open air with moat might have been an ok quick, inexpensive fix, if the topical space was larger to begin with. Hopefully one day with proper attention to fundraising something better can be done, with a net, wall, glass combo around the perimeter.
As well I want that enclosure to look visually as modern as possible and flow with the two other new areas. Unfortunately, it seems the Orangutans may be spending the next Thirty years on the same size topical area as the Chimps did. Expanding the topical area should have been a priority.
That all said, the priority at this point is to get the Orangutans into an enclosure dedicated to them as soon as possible. A place they have access to all the time, not just a couple hours a day, a few times a week. Hopefully they will like it. I know I'll be happy to not see them sitting in the tubes, frowning while looking down at the Chimps in the yard.
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Finally, the Orangutans are getting a proper enclosure. I have felt so bad for them. Keeping fingers crossed that this works out and they are happy.
ReplyDelete@Andie - Thank you for your comment. Sorry for the delay. And with that delay there has been a sad update to this situation. Please read the post I just did. It made me physically ill to write. I have no idea how this will end up.
DeleteCongradulations on your efforts kicking the tires on animal welfare at sf zoo. I feel everything regarding having an opinion, and questioning others whom work thinking they actually know anything about animals. My guess is the remodeling of great ape grotto looks like a bandaid solution with solution being orangutans will have man made jungle gym environment playground. Will see orangutans fumble around artifical structures with little to no natural structures to speak anything of natural state these wonderful creatures come from. Given the little concern of animal welfare, and non sense you illustrate going down at this zoo I'd say trying to combine dual usage of either exhibit between chimps and orangutans in the great ape passage is a wreck waiting to happen. Clearly the level of animal knowledge isn't like that say of Lincoln Park Zoo, nor even the sanctuary in florida that houses chimps and orangutans! I'm just saying and being practical.
ReplyDelete@junglejim - Thank you for your comment and support of my efforts. Sorry for the delay. And with that delay there has been a sad update to this situation. Please read the post I just did. It made me physically ill to write. I have no idea how this will end up. Yea as I write in recent post, the "Passage" aspect of this seems to have failed. Thankfully Chimps got new digs, but it took them 20+ years. Hopefully these poor Orangutans won't have to live here that long. I love them, but I don't love their life here. ... Lincoln Park Zoo has a great Ape leader and his wife is the Director! So they got a lock on doing things right!
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