You can smell the change. The rich natural aroma of gorilla musk returned with the opening of the Jake L. Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center in the spring of 2006.

The Zoo’s gorilla conservation center has been renovated to enhance the viewing experience of our magnificent western lowland gorilla troop, and to advance the Zoo’s conservation and research of this endangered species. The two-acre enclosure allows the gorillas to roam freely and interact in a natural habitat resembling their native equatorial forest including edible plants, thick grasses, shrubs, trees, rocky outcrops and waterways for splashing and drinking.

Zoo researchers and visitors are able to observe gorilla behavior from several vantage points including the climate controlled Gorilla Research Station, below-grade bunkers, and observation platforms. Gorilla guides are on hand daily to provide educational information.