Cologne Zoo Gorilla Exhibit

Exterior of Cologne's Gorilla habitat, above and the interior, in the two photo's below. It was built it 1985. Cologne like all zoo's have changed for the better, but it wasn't always like this.



People today often times get upset at international animal laws and regulations such as CITES which is an international agreement between governments, whos aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival, and wonder why it is all necessary. I have read, and have a copy of an amazing book, so I fully realize why animal laws and regulations are necessary, but for anyone who hasn't read "Gorillas In the Mist", I suggest you read chapter 5 closely, in which Dian Fossey describes how in separate 1969 incidents, two baby gorillas were taken from their families for exhibits at the Cologne Zoological Garden, resulting in over 20 wild, endangered mountain gorillas being killed. Adult gorillas will fight to the death to protect an infant's life; therefore, to extract the infant gorillas, hired poachers killed two entire families, or troops. The zoo was able to bribe the wildlife park conservator by offering him compensation including a free trip to Germany. Fossey herself nursed the infants, Coco and Pucker, back to health, before they were seized by the park conservator and shipped to the Cologne Zoo. Coco and Pucker lived a short 10 years in captivity and then died within one month of each other at the Cologne Zoo.

All animal industries have to study and learn from their history, if they are going to advance and not repeat the error's of the past. They can try to forget their history, but the history does not forget them. Better to use it as a learning tool for change.