Work progresses on new Perth Zoo gibbon habitat as part of multi-million dollar masterplan

Perth Zoo has advised that construction of its new gibbon habitat - expected to be complete in early 2025 - is moving forward

The latest phase of the Zoo’s Western Australia Government-backed $51 million expansion, the new gibbon habitat - to be known as Primate Crossing - will triple the animals’ space while also offering visitors new ways to see them. It will feature overhead rope pathways along which gibbons can swing directly above visitors as they enter the attraction.

The $11.7 million project is the latest phase of development in the animal attraction’s multi-year, multi-million dollar transformation that aims to transform the 125-year-old attraction.

It also includes the development of the new Parkland Heart precinct - an area designed to improve visitor amenities while creating new and exciting ways for visitors to experience the zoo's wildlife.

Commenting on the project, Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook stated “Western Australians love a day at the zoo, and we want to make sure the Perth Zoo experience is world-class for years to come.

“Our investments are upgrading and modernising the zoo, delivering a better experience for visitors and a better habitat for wildlife.”

The wider masterplan has already delivered a new café precinct, playground, and function centre, with the works coinciding with a rise in visitor numbers, which hit their peak in October last year when more than 100,000 people visited over the course of that month.

Perth Zoo has also been recognised with an award celebrating the best in Western Australia’s landscape architecture for its recently opened playground.

The WA State Awards, hosted by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), handed the Award of Excellence in the Play Spaces category to architects Hassell for its design of the new Perth Zoo playground which opened at the end of last year.

The playground features a misting cloud deck with an accessible bridge, an endangered Numbat play sculpture, Cockatoo models flying overhead and an engaging Gibbon mimicry experience. Other highlights include a 40 metre rope tunnel - one of the country’s longest - and overhead brachiating ropes.

According to Hassell, the playground addresses the site’s complex topography and existing mature trees and transforms what was a previously complicated and unsightly space.

Images: Primate Crossing will feature overhead rope pathways along which gibbons can swing directly above visitors (top) and the Zoo’s new which playground opened to the public late last year (below). Credit: Perth Zoo.