DANCING gorillas have been lifting themselves over and spinning around hoses at the Werribee Open Range Zoo.
It’s all thanks to Ballan CFA, which donated more than 500 metres of hoses last month. Yakini, Ganyeka and their father Motaba (pictured) are benefiting from the exercise equipment in their new enclosure.
Gorilla keeper Kat Thompson says the space is physically and mentally energising for the apes, and the hoses are ideal due to the gorillas’ strength.
“Our heaviest gorilla is just over 160kg, but they have the potential to get bigger. The hoses are used for exercise and enrichment.”
Ballan CFA officer Archie Conroy says the brigade was happy to help.
“If the old hoses came back unusable after testing we stored them until we had a decent amount to give to the zoo.”
