Post‐occupancy modification of a Lowland gorilla Gorilla g. gorilla enclosure at Zoo Atlanta

The Gorilla Gorilla g. gorilla enclosures at Zoo Atlanta were designed to provide a complex and naturalized habitat which allowed the animals ‘flight distance’. A minor modification to one enclosure was made when it was recognized that both the educational and recreational functions of the Zoo were being compromised because the Gorillas spent the majority of time out of view. An electric fence was used to section off two small areas where the Gorillas spent a large part of each day. This successfully increased the amount of time that the animals were visible without significantly changing their other behaviours or compromising their welfare.