As Chad mentioned the other day, we’re in the final stretch of building the new open-top outdoor enclosures. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but the time had finally come to start tearing down the original fences so that we could install the last stretch of four fences that will separate the new Young’s Hill from the Bray. The only problem was that a few climbing structures were in path of the new fences, including one of the chimps’ favorites: Carlene’s Tower.
Luckily our friends at Sage Mechanical were on hand to help us do a little redecorating. They plucked the tower out of the ground and drove it to a new location.
And now Carlene’s Tower has found a new home among the evergreens at the very top of the hill, where it us sure to become one of the most popular spots in the renovated habitat.
While the final posts are being set, we’ll be busy winding up all 14 miles of wire from the original fence. Eventually, the insulators will be removed from the old posts and the posts will be used to build more climbing structures.
With over double the acreage, we’ll have a lot of building to do. But our immediate goal is just to get the new fences up and running so the Seven can get back outside and Cy’s group can get a chance to explore before winter. That process alone will take at least a month. As was the case with the original Young’s Hill, the new enclosures will be works in progress, with new play structures, trees, and swings added each year.
Wow, so much work, I can’t wait to see how much both groups enjoy it.
Thank you :revolving_hearts:
Very very exciting! Will they be able to climb the pines? Not sure if I think that is good or not but I’m sure you all know 🙂
Thanks, JB.! Some of my favorite Annie/Missy Missy/Annie pictures come from Carlene’s tower! :slight_smile:
Will that fire hose that extended from one structure to the other still be there? I’m talking about Missy and Jamie’s tightrope.
I so wish I could be there to volunteer!
I sincerely hope that Sage Mechanical will get a shout-out at the upcoming Seattle HOOT……
This final phase is so exciting! Maybe because it will be an ongoing work in progress for both sides. And what the Nine will do (or not do) is one big unknown and the process for them may also be a “work in progress”. Oh the wonder of it all!! Best of luck to you as you tackle this final, and very significant, last step.
Besides Carlene’s Tower, what other structures needed moving? And speaking of moving, I am sending a big thank you to the amazing team at Sage Mechanical for moving the beloved Carlene’s Tower without a hitch. You guys are THE Best! I am guessing Boss Jamie was there at the window to supervise the project.
That is awesome JB. i love the picture of the 4-5 chimps sitting on Carlene’s tower. It looks like they are wanting to ride thetower up the hill.
are you going to have to move the memorial rocks? If so where will they be placed?
Thanks, JB, for this very informative description and the great pics! Given the size and sturdiness of the structure, that they “plucked it out of the ground” and moved it is quite remarkable — As if it was a delicate flower being plucked from a bush! I wish I’d been there to see that! I assume the structure goes pretty deeply into the ground in order to keep it stable so the task I’m sure is far more complicated than “plucking” and placing! Wow!! It’s thrilling the chimps will be able to roam farther and have new explorations ahead. Great enrichment (and loads of fun, too)! It’s wonderful the new group will have outdoor space eventually. Being a part of this work-in-progress is a privilege and a delight.