1987 Abstract:
Great apes, among the world’s most severely threatened species and our closest biological relatives, are being featured in new zoo exhibits of unprecedented size, complexity, cost and number throughout the country. Historically, Great Ape exhibits are categorized into four chronological and thematic phases:
PHASE I ― Trophies and curiosities
PHASE II ― The Science Lab
PHASE III ― Great Apes in a small Eden
PHASE IV ― Great Ape societies in Eden
Each phase represents not only the prevailing state of management, knowledge and technology but, more importantly, the public’s attitudes toward wildlife and wilderness. Future designers of such facilities may benefit from a careful examination of the philosophical bias inherent in their own plans. How will future observers characterize our work?
This paper offers a detailed review of contemporary great ape exhibits and could be a valuable resource to future researchers.