St. Louis Zoo: Jungle of the Apes

 The Great Ape Habitats at the St. Louis Zoo are home to Western Lowland Gorillas (three), Bornean Orangutans (four) and Chimpanzees (eight).  The complex has three large interior day rooms, off-view habitats and three very large exterior habitats, one for each species.  

Both the Gorillas and Chimpanzees were inside on view.  The Orangutans were outside.  Included in the four was a relatively recently born member.  There were three large viewing windows around the exterior Orangutan Habitat.  Two of them were frosted over with white paint, so guests were all gathered at the remaining window.  I wasn't able to see the females or the little off-spring, because a particular family refused to move from their position at the window.  Now, you may ask, how do I know this?  Well, the dad announced it to everyone else waiting for their turn.  He said, it was rare to get such a great opportunity and they had no intention of leaving as long as the little orangutan was there.  I was able to see the big old male.

What surprised me about their groups was how small they were.  To have such a huge space, and only three Gorillas, when in the wild a small troop would be easily twice that size.  

Outside the entrance to the inner habitats, a wall displays images of the Apes with their names.

Western Lowland Gorilla Day Room.

Chimpanzee Day Room

Orangutan Day Room

Western Lowland Gorilla External Habitat

Banners celebrate the Chimpanzees along the path to their exterior habitat.

Exterior Chimpanzee Habitat

Only Orangutan viewing window.

The male Orangutan