Primate Forest

You are now entering Primate Forest. As you walk through, you are met with exhibits two stories tall. These exhibits are filled with native trees and plants of all shapes and sizes. There are large wooden poles throughout the exhibits both vertically and horizontally for climbing. There are also quite a few fire hoses for the animals to climb and swing on. You may also hear primates such as lemurs and gibbons swinging back and forth throughout their enclosures. 

As you move past the primates, you will round the corner and find yourself with the red pandas. These exhibits offer a habitat that reflects what their natural environment may be. This exhibits also offers two indoor viewing locations with large glass windows allowing viewing from ground to ceiling of the 2 story building.

Primate forest is a unique exhibit because it rotates the animals through the different exhibits depending on the day. Because these habitats are suitable for all of our primates, they take turns on different days to being in different spots, whether it’s the indoor exhibits or outdoor exhibits.

Primates include lemurs, monkeys and apes. In primate forest, there are all three! The Zoo is home to ring-tailed lemurs and red-ruffed lemurs and also three different species of monkey: Colobus monkeys, Langurs and Red-Tailed Guenons. We also have one lesser ape called the White-cheeked gibbon. It is distinct from the monkeys because it does not have a tail. All of these primates could be in any of the exhibits on any given day.

Red Pandas are also found in Primate Forest due to their use of the same style exhibit, however, they are not primates!

A gibbon is a small, tree-dwelling ape known for its incredible agility and graceful movements. It has long arms, which are much longer than its legs, and its body is slim and lightweight, making it perfectly suited for swinging from tree to tree in the dense forests of Southeast Asia.

Gibbons move primarily by swinging hand-over-hand from branch to branch, known as brachiation. This is one of the most efficient ways for gibbons to travel through the trees, allowing them to cover large distances quickly. They can also walk upright on their back legs with their arms held out for balance, giving them the appearance of a tight rope walker.

Adult males are typically all black with a light-colored face and prominent white cheeks, which gives the species its name. The females are usually have a golden or tan colored body with a dark face and a white ring around their whole head.

The face is one of the most recognizable features, with the white fur surrounding the eyes and a dark line running down the middle.

One of the most remarkable characteristics of this animal is its ability to change fur color. When white-cheeked gibbons are born, their fur is tan in order to match their mother’s. As they mature, their fur turns black. If they are female, their fur will change once again returning to a tan color when they reach maturity and are ready to have offspring.

Just like the exhibits of the primates, the red pandas also have a tall enclosure that allows them to have access to several wooden logs at varying heights to explore. Since this species is arboreal, likes to live in trees, these wooden logs mimic the forest trees they may live in. At certain heights, there are platforms where the pandas can be noticed. Two of the platforms have boxes that contain A/C and that are as big as a washing machine. The pandas are able to enter like a dog door. It can either be used as a way to cool down in the warm weather or just a place to sleep. You will also be able to find their diet which consists of leafy greens, bamboo, and biscuits.

If the pandas are not found either climbing high or hanging out on the platforms, they are sound asleep in their hammock. This hammock is made of a sturdy rope material that has openings where the pandas can stick their heads, limbs, or tails through. The openings are small enough to where they can walk on and are unable to fall through.

Red pandas have a similar body weight and length like raccoons, even though they are not related. As the name suggests, red pandas are a dark red and orange color. Most of that color is located on the upper half of their body and on the head as well. Moving over to their face, a large part of it is white and is on their eyebrows, near their mouth, and on their cheeks. From their eye to their chin, there is a vertical line that goes downward and is called “tear marks”. These markings act as protection from the sun. On the bottom side of their body and legs are a dark brown and black color. They also have sharp and semi-retractable claws on their paws. Lastly, there are their fluffy-ringed, long tails that help keep them balanced as they climb in their exhibit. 

We hope this tour of primate forest gave a new way to learn about the unique space and characteristics of the species. Enjoy the rest of your day at the Toledo Zoo.