|
San Francisco Zoo Gorilla Environment
The subjects, the
gorillas at the San Francisco Zoo, are members of a stable social group; at the
beginning of the study all of them had spent nearly all of their lives at this zoo. The San Francisco Zoo's
present gorilla enclosure has been this group’s home since 1980. It has an
outdoors area of 2300 square meters, or 38 by 50 meters at maximum parameters.
It is covered with grass and other vegetation and contains large, climbable live
trees as well as several dead trees, large stumps, and two large artificial rock
structures that include arches and cave-like areas. The viewing areas are above
the gorillas except for a large glass window through which the viewers have eye-to
eye access to the gorillas. The entry door to the indoor quarters can be either
left open or closed, or partially open so that only the smaller gorillas have
indoor access.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On the right: the gorilla night quarters |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rock grotto structure provides places to climb and play hiding games |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Large trees the gorillas can climb are a special feature in the San Francisco Zoo habitat |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Even the larger gorillas use the trees for both rest and play |
|
|
|
|
|
|
