 LOCATION:
800 Cherokee Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, 30312
Phone: 01-404-624-5600
Fax: 404-627-7514
URL: http://www.zooatlanta.org
 KEY WORDS:
African Rainforest, Cameroon, Gorilla
 ANIMALS:
| Family: | Species: | Common Name: | Capacity: |
| Gorilla | gorilla gorilla | Western Lowland Gorilla | 4.20.4 |
 AWARDS:
1995 National Council of State Garden Clubs, Silver Seal Achievement award
1989 AZA Significant Achievement Exhibit Award
 DESCRIPTION:
As the first major new exhibit at Zoo Atlanta during it's redevelopment, The Ford African Tropical Forest Exhibit creates a strong landscape theme. This 200,000 m2 exhibit features four family-groups of gorillas in separte habitats within a landscape immersion exhibit. The intention was to create an opportunity for observing near natural behaviors of wild gorillas in a captive setting. Hidden barriers, dense vegetation and artificial rockwork and water features were used in the animal and visitor spaces to simulate a African Tropical Forest environment. Interpretive Graphics and artifacts were used to communicate conservation and scientific messages related to Gorillas and their environment. Additional features include the Takamenda Research Station, the Elders Tree Theater, Gorillas of Cameroon Interpretive Building and associated exhibits for Drills, Guenon and African Forest Birds. The large off-exhibit holding and research building creates a flexible management facility to manage a large group of Gorillas over a long term.
 SIZE:
Habitat #1: 2724 m2 Habitat #2: 350 m2 Habitat #3: 1444 m2 Habitat #4: 1507 m2 Total Exhibit area: 13080 m2 Space allocation in square meters:
| use | indoors | outdoors | total exhibit |
| accessible | total | accessible | total |
| animals | 332 | 332 | 5,421 | 6,025 | 6,357 |
| visitors | 93 | 93 | 928 | 928 | 1,021 |
| others | 336 | 336 | | 6,127 | 6,463 |
| total | 761 | 761 | 6,349 | 6,953 | 7,378 |
 COSTS:
USD 6,500,000 including 12 % for design.
The project was funded through a major city support bond and a private fund raising campaign. The Ford Motor Company made a major contribution. For it's part, they were given the naming opportunity.
 OPENING DATE:
1 May 1988
 DESIGN:
Beginning: 1 April 1986
- Exhibit Design/Landscape Architecture: Coe Lee Robinson Roesch, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. USA
- Architecture: Turner Associates, Inc., Atlanta, GA. USA
- Engineering: Robert and Co. Inc., Atlanta, GA. USA
 CONSTRUCTION:
Beginning: 1 April 1987
- General Contractor: Beers Construction, Atlanta, GA. USA
- Rockwork: Environmental Craftsman, New Orleans, LA. USA
 LOCAL CONDITIONS:
 PLANTS:
Plants chosen were tropical simulators which were non-toxic to Gorillas and were locally available and adapted to local climate. Additional plants were located in the visitor area which were actual tropical plants which could be maintained in containers and moved seasonally. The plant list specifies the Latin names of the plants used for this exhibit.
 FEATURES DEDICATED TO ANIMALS:
The gorilla habitats are adjacent to each other, separated by a dry moat system (with grass substrate); each moat is 3.05m (10 ft) wide and 3.66m (12 ft) deep. Double moats with a dividing wall are used for adjoining habitats, while single moats are used as public barriers. The wall height around the holding building and habitat edges is 3.66m (12 ft). The habitats range in size from 350 m2 (3760 ft2) to 2724 m2 (29,290 ft2). Each enclosure includes grass substrate, rock outcroppings made of gunnite painted to represent the dark granitic rock of Cameroon, large hardwood shade trees, saplings, bushes, and fallen trees. Large hardwood trees are protected either by wrapping their trunks with chain link fencing or with fiberglass tree coverings and hotwire around the trunk at the height of 2 m (6 ft). The topography is rolling, ranging from steep (over 30%) grade to flat ground. Rockwork streams and waterfalls are present in two of the four habitats. Water is available in the other two habitats from push-button drinkers at the holding building. Rocks were also built along side and back walls to camouflage the holding building. Dead climbing trees were provided for arborial pursuits in three locations, as well as several horizonal deadfalls. Gorilla holding consists of fifteen animal rooms: eleven bedrooms, ranging from 5.6-26.8 m2 (60-288 ft2), one large "dayroom" of 69 m2 (740 ft2) designed to house groups indoors comfortably, and one "introduction room" of 33 m2 (360 ft2), a room divided by a double mesh panel. A quarantine area, with two 9.3 m2 (100 ft2) bedrooms, is located adjacent to the dayroom and is on a separate air system. A door panel can be utilized to transfer animals from quarantine into the dayroom, when needed.
 FEATURES DEDICATED TO KEEPERS:
The holding area for gorillas is designed to house several families of gorillas. Maximum flexibility is built into the system, with transfers and doors connecting individual cages in order to move any animal throughout the entire complex. Medical, research and quarantine needs are also accommodated in the design. Keeper areas include a kitchen, a central aisle between cages, hall storage, and an office. A 119 m2 (1280 ft2) research laboratory, including offices, is connected to the animal holding facility. Each cage is fronted by 5cm x 5cm x 0.64cm (2"x 2", 1/4"-thick), welded-wire mesh panels. Substrate is of Stonhard flooring. All animal rooms include a push-button drinker. Each animal cage has a keeper door which is locked by two padlocks on door-tabs. All cages are connected by hydraulic doors and with overhead transfer cages as necessary. The 52 hydraulic doors that connect all the animal cages are 0.91m x 0.91m (3'x 3'), with doors made of 2.54cm (1") thick polypropylene, with metal cover plates over the mechanism. The doors run on city water pressure (60 psi) in an open system (7.6 liters [two gallons] of water are used every time a door is opened or closed). A back-up pump system is included for emergencies. Doors are numbered and color-coded: green for an outside door, yellow for a cage door, and red for an overhead transfer door. They are operated by a toggle handle that can be locked with a padlock. As a safety measure, the door itself also has a locking pin for a padlock on both sides that prevents the door from being moved. There are three metabolic squeeze cages in the main facility, and one in the quarantine area. These are mesh rooms ranging from 2.2-4.5 m2 (24-48 ft2) with a moveable wall, a guillotine door that locks to a transfer box, and a specimen collection tray underneath. The roof of the holding building is flat and can be used for observations of all four habitats. The habitats can also be viewed through windows in the keeper doors to the outside, and through an additional window into habitat 2. The holding area utilizes a renovated section of the old feline house, with new facilities added onto the west side of the building. Window cages were gutted and "modernized." Due to the difference in elevation between the old building and the new habitats, stairs and a hydraulic lift were added where the old renovated and newly constructed buildings join. Research staff and keepers may observe the gorillas and distribute food from:1) roof of Gorilla Holding building, 2) roof of Interpretive building, 3) the berm between gorilla and orangutan, and 4) Habitat 4 waterfall area.
 FEATURES DEDICATED TO VISITORS:
The exhibit is experienced as an outdoor walkthrough environment along a narrow visitor trail. In general, the public views the gorillas from wood-fenced, open air overlooks (across moats) at the front and sides of habitats, as well as from the "Scientist's Deck" or "Takamenda Research Camp." The only enclosed viewing building is the Interpretive Center with large glass windows and a small "kid's window" where gorillas may be viewed closely. This building is approximately 93 m2 (1000 ft2) in area and includes multi-media graphics about gorillas and the rainforest.
 INTERPRETATION:
There are many forms of educational opportunities for the visitor: •Porcelain enamel flat graphic panels at overlooks describe the issues related to gorilla conservations, biology, behavior and habitat destruction. •Cultural artifacts are distributed along the trail such as poacher's snares, slash and burn brush piles and vegetable crops, as well as scientist clipboards. •In the Interpretive building there is a theater which has several video segments which describe the zoo's efforts to conserve the species as well as behind-the-scenes activities. •Three-dimensional models show the differences between rainforest trees and temporate climate trees. •At the Elder's tree theater, presentations on african dance, drumming, and storytelling occur on a regular schedule. •At the Reseach Station, Zoo docents show a wide range of Gorilla artifacts and research equipment as well as answer general questions in informal conversation with guests. •The Willie B Kiosk displays information from the famous gorilla's life in the form of scrapbooks and flat graphics.
 MANAGEMENT:
The holding building is located in the rear of the exhibit with direct access to the holding building and one large habitat from the service roadway and gate is permitted. Keeper walkways on three sides allow for access to the perimeter of the exhibit without visitor contact.
Animal transfers are permitted from any room inside to any of the four main habitats by use of overhead transfers and shift cages. This permits the rotation of family groups to any exhibit area on any day without having to immobilize the animals. Keeper access is permitted from one habitat to another from either outside or inside, through the building.
The 52 hydraulic doors that connect all the animal cages are 0.91m x 0.91m (3'x 3'), with doors made of 2.54cm (1") thick polypropylene, with metal cover plates over the mechanism. The doors run on city water pressure (60 psi) in an open system (7.6 liters [two gallons] of water are used every time a door is opened or closed). A back-up pump system is included for emergencies.
Research staff and keepers may observe the gorillas and distribute food from:1) roof of Gorilla Holding building, 2) roof of Interpretive building, 3) the berm between gorilla and orangutan, and 4) Habitat 4 waterfall area.
 RESEARCH:
One of the goals stated in Zoo Atlanta's mission is to support and participate in humane research programs which contribute to zoo management and conservation biology. It is the mandate of the Conservation and Research Department to see that those goals are achieved in both the day-to-day activities of the zoo and its long-range plans. Their primary research interests lie in behavioral projects that have an impact on management and husbandry protocols, such as evaluations of feeding enrichment; studies on endangered species that contribute to their health and successful reproduction; and assessment of visitors' responses to the conservation message that Zoo Atlanta conveys to the visiting public.
Some of the published research projects are:
1) Enclosure Utilization in Captive Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla): Implications for Zoo Design, Jacqueline J. Ogden and Terry L. Maple.
2) Behavioral enrichment for captive gorillas and orangutans, Debra Forthman, Rita McManamon, Kenneth Gold.
3) Reproductive profiles of male and female gorillas, Kenneth Gould.
4) Study of gorilla lactational amenorrhea.
5) Socialization of an Adult Male Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), Sam Winslow, Jacqueline J. Ogden, and Terry L. Maple.
6) A Survey of the Use of Electric Fencing with Captive Great Apes, J.J. Ogden, G. Bruner, and T.L. Maple.
 CONSERVATION:
As part of the research department of the zoo, a full-time research associate is stationed in Africa to coordinate research projects. His efforts enable the zoo's staff to participate in programs which directly aid habitat and species conservation projects.
 LOCAL RESOURCES:
The design and construction of the exhibit involved local people at every level. Local school children and teachers, politicians and scientists were consulted in the design process. The only members of the design team which were not from the Atlanta area were the zoological design and landscape consultants, CLRR, Inc. |
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