Ndoki Forest
Start of construction: 2028 | Opening: 2031 | Area: 2.9 hectares
An open, swampy clearing surrounded by dense forest with giant trees up to 25 meters high. Gorillas comb through the vegetation; a pygmy hippopotamus breaks through the surface of the water. On the shore, an okapi watches the other animals attentively.
This scenery forms the center of the Ndoki Forest at Zoo Zurich. The unique new habitat is being created as part of the development of the zoo of the future and will set new standards in the keeping of great apes. It takes into account all four main tasks of the modern zoo: nature conservation, species conservation, research and education.
Watch the trailer: Ndoki Forest
Video: Zoo Zürich, Region Five Media
Communal Living
As in the Masoala Rainforest and the Lewa Savanna, various endangered animal species will live together in the Ndoki Forest. In addition to western lowland gorillas, drills, okapis and pygmy hippos, among others, will move into the total area of around 29,000 square meters.
The Ndoki Forest will be divided into different areas. As in nature, the animals will move from one area to the next at different intervals and in changing compositions. This constantly offers new stimuli and challenges the animals to develop new solutions in their everyday lives.
Here today, there tomorrow: The animals in the Ndoki Forest change areas and «roommates» in varying compositions and at different intervals. This provides new stimuli and challenges. Rendering: Zoo Zurich, Zooplanung Schneider Klein
Tree Giants for the gorillas
A special feature of the Ndoki Forest will be the living giant trees. Around 100 of these giants, up to 25 meters high, will provide the animals with natural climbing opportunities. In this form, this is unique in the world for a zoo.
To ensure that the trees can withstand even the strong gorillas, they must be large and old enough when the habitat opens. A specialized tree nursery is therefore taking care of the breeding and maintenance of the future Ndoki forest giants years before the actual start of construction.
Flying high: giant trees up to 25 meters tall will shape the image of the Ndoki Forest. To ensure that the trees are robust enough for the opening, specialized tree nurseries are already growing the trees now. Rendering: Zoo Zurich, Zooplanung Schneider Klein
In-situ Nature conservation
Like the Masoala Rainforest and the Lewa Savanna, the Ndoki Forest has a «big brother»: the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo. In future, Zoo Zurich will support this as its ninth nature conservation project , in collaboration with the local project partner Wildlife Conservation Society WCS.
The Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is a nature reserve covering over 4000 square kilometers in the Congo Basin. It is characterised by a largely untouched rainforest. The national park is one of the most important refuges for the western lowland gorilla and numerous other endangered animal species.
The Ndoki Forest allows zoo guests to immerse themselves with all their senses in the home of endangered gorillas. Guests walk through and experience the forest at different levels, from the treetop to the swamp landscape. Exciting perspectives and encounters arouse emotions and raise awareness for the preservation of nature. Rendering: Zurich Zoo, zoo planning Schneider Klein
Sumatran rainforest for orangutans
Following the opening of the Ndoki Forest, the existing great ape house will remain in place for the time being. The Sumatran orangutans will be given access to the former gorilla areas.
In the long term, however, the zoo is also building a new habitat for the orangutans in the form of the Sumatran Rainforest.
At a glance: One Plan Approach
Zoo Zurich follows the «One Plan Approach» of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The One Plan Approach describes the combination of:
- on-site nature conservation (in-situ);
- preservation of reserve populations of endangered species in zoos (ex-situ);
- research into endangered species.
This is a holistic approach. All measures to preserve biodiversity are interlinked and benefit from each other. In this way, the One Plan Approach achieves maximum protection for endangered species.
Not only scientifically managed zoos are committed to the One Plan Approach, but also local nature conservation organisations, governments and other organisations involved in nature and species conservation. Instead of these actors working in isolation from each other, the One Plan Approach unites them in a common vision. Example: Knowledge and research on endangered species from zoos is also transferred to local nature conservation projects and vice versa.
Species conservation is a mammoth task that can only succeed if all stakeholders work hand in hand.
