The gorilla pavilion of the Prague zoo has turned into one large construction site. Renovation of the visitor pathway inside the pavilion has been finished but more construction works are underway to improve the outer enclosure and the vicinity of the pavilion.
At the moment, new surface is being laid on the paths leading to the entrance to the pavilion. A porch is planned to be erected to cover the entrance and the window through which you can watch the gorillas walk to the outer enclosure or sit at the "doorstep" of their house.
Tree trunks in the enclosure are rotten and worn out due to heavy use by the gorillas. The trunks will be replaced with fresh ones and new rope structures will be attached to give the gorillas some change and new pleasure.
Kijivu finds it hard to cope with the everyday noise. She spent the whole Tuesday morning with her hands clutched to the ears. When the noise gets loudest, she will find refuge in hideout on the stairs that lead to the flood tower. She will stay there until the rumble and rattle of pneumatic drills and other tools and machinery around the pavilion recedes. Visitors can only guess where she is by the occasional waving of a branch over the railing of the stairs.
Shinda has been on a diet and will be until the end of November. There is no need to worry about her well-being - she receives a wide selection of vegetables and her sweet tooth will surely manage without fruit for a few more days. Marek Zdansky is planning to persuade Shinda to step on the scale, so we should soon know how successful the diet has been.
Despite the annoyance caused by the construction works, the gorilla troop is getting along quite peacefully. Some commotion occurs only due to occasional confrontations between Richard and Moja when she enters her father's territory with scattered food for a morning snack or when she is too daring towards him. Richard's gesture always reminds her where the limits are, even though she is in puberty and cannot help herself.
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