5 things to know about the Saint Louis Zoo’s forthcoming Primate Canopy Trails

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

All Shots

Overlay

Close

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

A trip to the Saint Louis Zoo isn’t complete without a stop at the beloved Primate House, where kids and adults alike marvel at how the 40 or so primates interact, forage for food, and more behind glass enclosures. But even after an indoor habitat renovation, many of the animals don’t have access to the outdoors because of they’re too small or strong to play on the existing mesh of the Zoo’s current outdoor habitats.

Because of this, the Zoo is expanding the Primate House with the Primate Canopy Trails, a 35,000-square-foot addition that will take visitors through an outdoor exhibit, where primates will literally climb above, next to, and alongside guests. The $11.5 million expansion will begin construction later this year with plans to open in 2021.

In a statement, Jeffrey P. Bonner, Dana Brown president and CEO of the Saint Louis Zoo, says the exhibit will “allow visitors to experience primates like never before.”

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Here are five things to know about the Primate Canopy Trails:

1. Next to the Primate House, the Primate Canopy Trails will offer eight new outdoor homes for lemurs, Old World monkeys, and New World monkeys.

2. The primates will walk through sky trails overhead. The mesh tunnels connect the outdoor area, fit with sycamore trees and tree houses, to the Primate House. According to the release, “these ‘sky trails’ will have a flexible design that allows animals to explore different habitats at different times, boosting the stimulation in their daily lives.”

3. There could be “as many as 70 different habitat combinations for the various groups of primates to enjoy Primate Canopy Trails.”

4. It wouldn’t be the Zoo without education—the exhibit will also teach kids the importance of conservation efforts and forest preservation.  

5. This means the Zoo can participate in more breeding programs because they’ll be able to accommodate more primates. Yay, more babies!

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

All Shots

Overlay

Close

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

Renderings courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo

See the expansion for yourself in a sneak peek below: