As part of the Jacksonville Zoo's African Forest expansion project, the Orlando theming team completed the fabrication and installation of over 6,000 square feet of rockwork and mud bank-themed veneer in the Gorilla exhibit yard. The project also included the construction of a new Bonobo exhibit and the design-build of a 47-foot-tall, 45-foot-wide Kapok Tree, which serves as the focal point of the new exhibit. The tree's interior is accessible via a stairway, enabling staff to monitor and care for the animals. The internal structure also includes access to an elevated “Crow’s Nest” platform, offering zookeepers and zoologists a bird’s-eye view of the exhibit to observe the animals' behavior.
Within the Gorilla and Bonobo exhibits, the theming team also fabricated a rockwork waterfall and pool structure, enhancing the exhibit's landscape with 2,000 square feet of rock outcrops and 700 square feet of eroded mud bank slopes. Additionally, seven artificial Banyan trees and soil-themed wall veneer were incorporated into the new guest viewing room.
In 2020, the African Forest exhibit was honored with the Exhibit Award for Innovation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
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