Cincinnati Zoo is set to reopen its revamped Gorilla World exhibit early next month, just over a year after the controversial killing of inhabitant Harambe.
The first of a two-phase expansion, the new US$12m (€10.7m, £9.2m) gorilla habitat was announced in September 2015 before Harambe’s death on 28 May 2016.
Phase one of the development includes improved landscaping and more space in the outdoor habitat, with an energy-efficient stream and waterfall. The first phase also includes modernised living areas for the gorillas and a new behind-the-scenes configuration that provides them with spatial variety and easy options to move past one another.
Phase two, expected to be completed by the third quarter, will feature a large indoor space around the same size as the existing outdoor area. The new indoor area space will help the zoo in areas such as husbandry and improved care, also allowing it to show gorillas every day of the year as previously that was impossible due to the cold winter climate.
“We launched a fundraising campaign to expand Gorilla World in 2015 and have come a long way since we broke ground on the project last fall,” said Thane Maynard, Cincinnati Zoo director. “We’re on track to complete the new indoor environment this fall and excited to get the gorillas outside in a few weeks.”
Harambe is undoubtedly the zoo’s most famous resident, after the gorilla was shot and killed to protect a young boy who fell into his enclosure.
The endangered primate’s death was met with international outrage, Harambe later becoming an online sensation in the form of an internet meme. His death still hangs over the zoo today, with its social media posts almost without fail including mentions of Harambe no matter the situation. At one point the aggressive and abusive messages led the zoo to shut down its social media. When reactivated, it immediately received a barrage of Harambe messages from its followers.
Last October the zoo completed work on increasing the safety of its Gorilla World, making the wall overlooking the enclosure 42 inches high – six inches taller than the previous wall – also including a mesh fence from top to bottom to prevent small children from crawling through. The barrier had been active for 38 years without incident, opening in 1978 and being unique at the time for being the world’s first barless outdoor gorilla exhibit.
