Chimpanzee Enclosure Sydney Zoo
You
can spend hours and hours watching the antics of the boisterous Chimpanzees
while at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Some of their personal habits are
a bit disgusting, but that's the way they are, so disregard those dirty
habits and simply enjoy the chimps for what they are. Chimpanzees are
really amusing to watch as they go about their own business, playing,
fighting, eating and sleeping.
The open air Chimpanzee exhibit at Taronga Zoo is one of the most popular with visitors,
as everyone seems to have an affection for the playful chimps. Perhaps
it's because we can see ourselves originating from these primitive creatures
or perhaps can recognize someone we know from their almost humanoid
looks. After all they do share 98% of human DNA and are our closest
relative.
Chimps can live quite long lives. In 2007 Fifi, one of the worlds oldest
chimps, died at Taronga Zoo aged 60 years. Can anybody remember Cheeta
from the Tarzan movies? He was still going at age 75. Normally chimps
average life span is around 45 years, yet in captivity this is lengthened
due to good diet and regular medical checks. We should take a lesson
from the chimps, eat a well balanced diet and live longer.
As
a close knit family, the chips do fight quite a bit between themselves
but usually sort things out without anyone being severely hurt. There
is definitely a pecking order between the Chimpanzees and the head honcho,
who sits and oversees the tribe. You can tell this fellow is the boss
as other male chimps seem afraid to go near him.
The Chimpanzee enclosure has a huge scaffold like construction, with
ropes and planks, so the chimps can climb, swing, exercise and play.
The entire enclosure is constructed so the the public is as close as
possible to the animals for better viewing. There is a glass viewing
chamber where the chimps sleep so people can still see the animals if
it is cold or raining.
Feeding time is always a great spectacle, and you will notice that
all the animals seem to have a particular area of their own to collect
the food that the keepers scatter about the enclosure. Don't miss the
Chimpanzee Keeper Talk each day at 1.00pm. You will learn some amazing
facts about the Taronga Zoo Chimpanzees.
Other Fabulous Taronga Zoo Attractions Include:
Free
Flight Bird Show
Free
Seal Show
Gorilla
Open Air Enclosure
Chimpanzee images used on this web page © Tanya
Puntti