Features of our new gorilla house at Jersey Zoo
5 August 2024
In June, we announced that work was underway for our new, state-of-the-art gorilla house at Jersey Zoo.
The new house will be the most modern gorilla facility in Europe and will replace the current gorilla house that opened in 1981.
So how will it compare to the current house?
The new house will feature two indoor housing spaces for our troop and eight separate dens where the gorillas will sleep. This will provide more space for our gorilla family when they need it as well as provide more flexibility for our team looking after them.
As well as this, there will be a separate space for weighing and training the gorillas. Our team undertakes regular health-focused training with our gorillas, to make it easier for us to do simple tasks such as checking their heart rate and temperature. This means we can safely get a clearer picture of their wellbeing and adapt their care as necessary. The more we know about their health and wellbeing, the more we can tailor their care.
In addition to these spaces, the house includes new climbing structures, with ropes and webbing for moving around the space, a deep bark chip floor as well as specially designed puzzle feeders for our troop.
We will also be able to control the temperature of the building more effectively with a state-of-the-art cooling and humidity system. This will make it easier during the colder months to replicate their natural habitat, which will support the gorillas with optimal conditions all year round.
For our keepers, we will have a larger space to work with and monitor our troop. This includes a kitchen for preparing their food, as well as more storage and dedicated office space. We will also be able to observe them from our research balcony and 24/7 CCTV. This will help us learn even more about the natural behaviours of our gorillas.
For our visitors, the house will be more accessible. As it is spread over three floors, it will feature a lift and passageways that are wheelchair accessible. No matter the weather, they will have a chance to see our troop in all their glory and learn more about these magnificent animals.