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Tropical Rain Forest
If the Tropical Rain Forest looks a little different than the last time you
visited, there may be a reason. Exhibits throughout the zoo are modified
daily to provide enrichment and greater comfort to the animals housed in
them. A common change in the Tropical Rain Forest is the movement of the
bird’s perching areas. The movable perching areas—cut branches—can be wired
to numerous locations on the trees, giving the birds exposure to different
areas.
In studying the perches, you may notice that none are located near the mesh
separating the monkey and bird enclosures. A closer look at the mesh shows
that the bamboo leaves near it are thinner than those elsewhere, indicating
the monkeys supplement their diet with browse where they can reach it. The
thinned vegetation also indicates that a curious hand could find its way to
an unsuspecting bird if the perches weren’t carefully placed.
While changes in the exhibit can be seen between visits, they can be seen
throughout the day as well. The Diana monkeys typically replace the
black-and-white colobus monkeys in the Tropical Rain Forest around 3 p.m.,
meaning that visitors who come later in the afternoon may see the male Diana
monkey performing his open-mouth display. The birds are more likely to
venture down to the water later in the day, offering visitors a closer look.
And while the birds generally ignore the adjacent ranger station in favor of
their more spacious, better-lit habitat, keepers lower a barrier at night in
case the birds feel like exploring.
Next: African Dwarf Crocodile
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