Our chimps have a new home!
Friday 9 April 2004
All change for Whipsnade's chimp group as they move into their stunning new enclosure
Come and see how our chimps are settling into their brand new home after the grand opening of their exciting new enclosure on Wednesday 7 April.
The chimps now have an extensive indoor gymnasium or 'chimpnasium', providing the group with a variety of opportunities for swinging, playing or even sleeping in the high level hammocks. This vast area is almost three times the size of the current dens' floor space.
Artist impression of 'chimpnasium'
Work began on the enclosure in early autumn last year. The aim was to transform the area and provide a complex and stimulating habitat which is ideally suited to the chimps' needs. It also offers a fantastic new experience for Whipsnade's visitors.
For visitors to Whipsnade, large viewing windows not only allow for a fabulous perspective of the chimps' play area, but also provide a real close encounter as the chimps forage in the bark and log piles adjacent to the viewing sections. This is a chance for any visitor to get a real insight into chimp behaviour.
Visitors meet the chimps Visitors are taken on a unique trail around the environment and they themselves will become 'field biologists' as they learn the techniques for tracking chimps in the wild - but watch out for the poachers!
Find out more about ZSL's new survey about chimp behaviour here.
