Oregon Zoo Primate Exhibit

Primate Exhibit

Overview

Though it is one of our oldest exhibits, this area is a favorite of visitors because of the antics of it's residents. Because of the zoo's participation in national Species Survival Plans and international breeding programs for these endangered animals, many babies are born here. A long-term study on chimpanzee development has been conducted since 1981.

Exhibit Animals

Primates at the Oregon Zoo
White-Cheeked Gibbons	L'Hoest Monkeys
Siamangs	Ring-tailed Lemurs
Mandrills	Francois Langurs
Chimpanzees	Black Howler Monkey
Orangutans	Red-handed Tamarins
Golden Lion Tamarins

Bold-face indicates endangered species

Exhibit Information

Built: 1959

Renovated: 1980-81

Challenge: To provide an atmosphere which is clean, safe, attractive to public and allows broad range of natural behaviors (primates quite adept at tearing, unscrewing and chewing). Because humans are primates too, there is a potential for our primates to contract human diseases (i.e., mumps, measles, TB, etc) from people. That is why primates are housed behind glass or at great distance from visitors.

Step Back in Time: Photo circa 1971

Renovations:

chimp island
lemur island
orangutan exhibit
outside exhibits in mandrills, siamangs, gibbons
tamarins outside exhibit not visible to public
large holding areas for each species

Characteristics: larger exhibits and outdoor facilities; more space per animal; fresh air; more natural behaviors; grass & dirt substrate (instead of concrete); logs, browse and toys added for food & play; most temperature held at 70 degrees; straw in enclosures changed every other day; 2 chimpanzee groups usually together

Future Plans: outdoor exhibits for south side exhibits

Meet the Primates

WHITE-CHEEKED GIBBONS
Duffy	Gender: Male Born: October 1995 at the Bronx Zoo Acquired March 2000
Gunther	Gender: Male Born: wild born in 1964 (est.) Acquired: October 1975
Nancy	Gender: Female Born: wild born in 1970 (est.) Acquired: April 1995
Phyllis	Gender: Female Born: wild born in 1970 (est.) Acquired: September 1975
CHIMPANZEES
Charlie	Gender: Male Born: wild born 1970 (est.) Acquired: May 1972 Offspring: Sarah
Chloe	Gender: Female Born: wild born 1969 (est.) Acquired: March 1975
Coco	Gender: Female Born: wild born 1952 (est.) Acquired: January 1961 Offspring: Delilah and Leah
Delilah	Gender: Female Born: May 25, 1973 at the Oregon Zoo Parents: Bill & Coco
Leah	Gender: Female Born: May 15, 1974 at the Oregon Zoo Parents: Bill & Coco
FRANCOIS MONKEYS
Cuoi	Gender: Female Born: April 1995
Ho Chang Me	Gender: Male Born: May 1988 Acquired: November 1995
Lynn	Gender: Female Born: July 1995
Rava	Gender: Male Born: December 1997
GOLDEN LION TAMARINS
Patch	Gender: Male Born: February 1986, Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, South Carolina Acquired: April 1994
Rosita	Gender: Female Born: February 1993, Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, South Carolina Acquired: November 1995
L'HOEST'S MONKEY
Barbra	Gender: Female Born: June 1987, Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C. Acquired: February 1991
Brice	Gender: Male Born: January 1988, Paris, France Acquired: February 1994
Fanny	Gender: Female Born: August 1984, Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C. Acquired: February 1991
MANDRILL
Kinshasa ("Kinny")	Gender: Male Born: June 5, 1997 Acquired: November 14, 2002 from Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, NY
Natalie	Gender: Female Born: August 25, 2000 Victoria's daughter
Nikki	Gender: Female Born: January 13, 1987 at the Oregon Zoo
Susannah	Gender: Female Born: August 28, 1996 at the Oregon Zoo
Victoria	Gender: Female Born: April 7, 1987 at the Oregon Zoo
ORANGUTAN
Batik	Gender: Female Born: August 19, 1987, Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Acquired:
Inji	Gender: Female Born: 1960 (est.) wild-born Acquired:
Kutai	Gender: Male Born: December 16, 1993 Acquired: May 10, 2001 from Sedgewick County Zoo, KS Inji's grandson
RED-HANDED TAMARIN
Unnamed	Gender: Female Born: January 1984 Acquired: September 1986
Unnamed	Gender: Female Born: October 1990
SIAMANG
Cho Cho	Gender: Male Born: 1967 (est.) wild-born Acquired: May 1974 from Private Party
Leslie	Gender: Female Born: September 13, 1969, Milwaukee Zoo, Wisconsin Acquired: October 1980