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Building work under way for new gorilla house

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Gorillas are described as being "truly synonymous" with Jersey Zoo

Work is under way for a new gorilla house at Jersey Zoo.

The enclosure would be the new home for gorillas Badongo, Bahasha, Hlala Kahilli and Amari.

The enclosure will feature a heating and cooling system, with the second stage of development starting this week.

The new house is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust An artist's impression of the plans for a new gorilla building at Jersey ZooDurrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
The Durrell Wildlife Trust said the building offered scope to acclimate new arrivals, both births and new gorillas

In 2019, Jersey Zoo hosted its public art trail "Go Wild Gorillas" with the aim of raising the funds to replace the current gorilla house - which opened in 1981.

At the end of the trail, the giant sculptures went to auction, raising £1,146,500 for the new gorilla house.

The rest of the funds were raised through donations from both individuals and trusts.

The Government of Jersey’s Fiscal Stimulus Fund covered the costs of the preparatory works, which included relocating the Visayan warty pig enclosure.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust An artist's impression of the plans for a new gorilla building at Jersey ZooDurrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
The trust said it would be sharing updates and progress pictures of the building work on social media over the coming months

Curator of Mammals at Jersey Zoo, Ben Matthews, said gorillas were "truly synonymous" with the zoo.

He said staff at the zoo had learned "so much" about the management of gorillas in zoos, and said the new building would allow them to put their knowledge into practice.

Mr Matthews said the new building would "provide a more flexible viewing experience" for guests, even in inclement weather.

There would also be opportunities to see the gorillas "displaying natural behaviours, foraging in the deep bark chip floor, interacting with high-level feeders or building nests in the complex climbing structures.”

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