How does the modern gorilla enclosure compare with the past?

How does the modern gorilla enclosure compare with the past?

Daniel Simmonds (Zookeeper) gives expert video advice on: What kind of environment do gorillas like?; How has our understanding of gorillas changed over the years?; What is the biggest threat to gorillas today? and more...

The enclosure that the gorillas used to have at ZSL London Zoo was a very functional exhibit, very good for the animals. In fact, the animals were really quite happy there. But the move forward for ZSL London is to provide, wherever possible, a cageless environment for the animals and that's what we've got here at the gorilla kingdom that opened in march 2007. So it's still a very freshly, very new exhibit that cost more than 5 million pounds to build. It's a large island surrounded by water, but with no cages. So it's a fully open environment for the animals. And that's the thing that we're trying to do for as many species as possible in the zoo.