Detroit Zoo: Great Apes and Flamingoes! Let's Dance

 From the Asian Forest area, we followed the sign posts to the Harambe Great Ape House.  This is the large holding with interior habitat space for the Detroit Zoos troop of Western Lowland Gorillas and their troop of Common Chimpanzees.  Both species were inside.  ON either side of the structure are large, open, spacious exterior habitats for both species.  On such a warm, bright day, I hoped that I could have seen them outside.  While there interior spaces were certainly large and well appointed by AZA standards, I also found the Chimp's interior space in need of cleaning.  At the Maryland Zoo, they cover the floor in straw and wood chips to give the Chimpanzees a more natural ground cover.

The story behind the Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is an interesting one.  Most zoos establish a viable troop and then over time through breeding or moves with the AZA institutions add a gorilla here, remove a gorilla there.  For the past 20 years, the Detroit Zoo had been home to 3 related males.  As other Gorillas died or moved on the core of their troop were these three step-brothers.  Then last July, all three were transferred to other AZA institutions on breeding recommendations, and in September an entirely new troop came to call the Detroit Zoo home.  The Silverback male Mshindi (36), and two of the females Bandia (25), and Tulivu (20) all came with existing relationships from the Cincinnati Zoo, and a third female, Nayembi (11) was transferred from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago

The other large interior habitat was home to the zoo's Chimpanzee troop.  With twelve members, and three of them young: Jane (6), Zane (4), and the newest member, Tai, now 11 months.  

Across from this complex was a large, green habitat where in two species of Flamingo resided.  It's seemed an impossibly large space for the needs of this species and left me wondering what sort of hoof stock (antelope or gazelle) might have once lived there.  The flock is actually made up of two species of Flamingo who would never meet in the wild.  The Greater Flamingo calls central Africa home, which the Chilean Flamingo (as the name suggests) calls the Western slopes, valleys and fjords of Chile home.  On our way we passed a volunteer that we'd seen at least twice before.  I sort of figured out that her role was to walk laps...

The entrance and exit to the Harambe Great Ape House.

The Interior Western Lowland Gorilla Room

Western Lowland Gorilla

Gorilla g. gorilla

Mshindi, the troop's silverback male.

The interior space used by the Chimpanzees.

Common Chimpanzee

Pan troglodytes

Here Tanya (31) makes her was to the window with 10 month-old Tai holding on to her back.

Most of the Chimp's were napping around in nests made from blankets and towels.  But the younger ones were up and about.  I believe this is Jane (6).

The zoo is home to a mixed species flock.

Chilean Flamingo

Phoenicopterus chilensis

&

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus