Regenstein Center for African Apes

The award-winning, state-of-the art Regenstein Center for African Apes features naturalistic indoor and outdoor living space for endangered chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas. Intensive behavioral research on chimpanzee and gorilla environmental preferences informed the design of these habitats. Currently in the building are two chimpanzee groups, one breeding group of gorillas and one bachelor group of gorillas.

The habitats include fallen logs, water features, dozens of trees and 5,000 feet of artificial vines for climbing and hanging. The chimpanzee exhibit also features functional termite mounds. There are three spacious, public-facing habitats: Kovler Gorilla Bamboo Forest, Strangler Fig Forest and the Dry Riverbed Valley.

There is also an expansive behind-the-scenes indoor and outdoor area in which staff care for a group of chimpanzees as a part of Lincoln Park Zoo’s ChimpCARE program. All exhibits support the great ape cognition research conducted by scientists at the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, headquartered inside this building.

The Lester E. Fisher Center for the Conservation of Apes engages zoo visitors, members, students and primatologists from around the world in science and conservation initiatives pertaining to great apes and Japanese macaques. A team of Ph. D-level scientists conduct research in the zoo and sanctuary settings and also in the wild, specifically in Tanzania and the Goualougo Triangle in the Republic of Congo. Lincoln Park Zoo also supports young primatologists, through internships, to ensure the advancement of great ape understanding and conservation.

Floor-to-ceiling windows give guests an opportunity to literally go nose-to-nose with curious and complex apes, who face a dramatic population decline in the wild due to poaching, habitat loss and disease. Educational programs, such as the daily interpretation of ape cognition research sessions, further engage and inspire guests.