JERSEY Zoo’s new state-of-the-art gorilla house has been officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
The gorilla house, which is nine times larger than the previous enclosure, was unveiled during a private visit by Princess Anne yesterday ahead of the public opening due to take place on a phased basis from 5 May.
It has two large indoor viewing spaces, eight dens, dedicated training and weighing areas, as well as systems to control the temperature and humidity.
It was also designed to encourage the gorillas’ natural behaviour, with deep bark chip flooring for foraging, climbing structures up to five metres high and ropes and platforms for movement and play.
Additionally, the zoo’s keepers can observe the troop from dedicated research balconies, supported by a CCTV system.
Durrell’s director of zoo operations, Mark Habben, said the facility had been given “every consideration” from start to finish.
“It provides the opportunity to manage the gorillas with greater reference to their cognitive and management needs whilst providing them with greater opportunities to develop their dynamic social structure,” he explained.
“We’re really excited for people to come and see it, and to watch the gorillas explore their new home.”
Princess Anne has been a patron of Durrell Wildlife Trust for more than 50 years.
The new building she unveiled yesterday replaces the gorillas’ previous home, which opened in 1981.
Chief executive Rebecca Brewer described yesterday’s unveiling as “a defining moment for
Durrell and for Jersey Zoo”.
She said: “Gorillas are synonymous with our history, and this new house represents a major step forward in how we care for endangered species.
“It brings together everything we have learned about welfare, environment and behaviour over the last 60 years.”
Ms Brewer continued: “It reflects our commitment not just to the animals in our care, but to the future of conservation globally.
“It was a privilege to welcome our patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, to open this important new facility, and we are incredibly grateful for her continued support.”
Public fundraising helped enable the gorilla house’s development, including more than £1.1m raised by the 2019 Go Wild Gorillas trail, alongside donations from the Government of Jersey Fiscal Fund as well as individuals, businesses and trusts.
Gorilla keeper Aoife O’Mahony said watching the gorillas move into their new house was “pretty emotional”.
“We had all four members of the troop come in within the first hour, which I don’t think any of us expected.
“To see them all come in and take food from the keepers and sit and explore the new space and actually get up onto the climbing frames and use the space that we spent so long designing and building and kitting out, it was a memory I’ll have forever.”
Curator of mammals Ben Matthews, said the upgraded facilities would improve the gorillas’ lives “in a huge number of ways”.
He explained: “Not just in terms of space and spatial complexity within the facility, but we now have so much more control over the humidity, the temperature, the light in the enclosure – so we can really try and mirror what they would be living in the wild.”
