by
Jane Dewar
We’re
running a few months behind our hoped-for schedule for construction, with
weather and other delays, but I’m still hoping my promise to one gorilla can
still be kept: He won’t have to spend another summer where he
currently lives. Of course, with federal, state, local and zoo licensing
and inspections, etc, still pending, more types of delays could slow us down,
but at long last we’re once again seeing some of our
progress, after months of working on rather boring but essential
projects (underground utilities, plumbing, electrical work, dry wall, etc).
Friday
we visited SEMCO where David Stites and his crew are manufacturing the
steelwork for the GH project, including the cages for the first villa to be
constructed, Silverback Villa. Each villa will have 2 sets of
enclosures, including inside and outside cages. The center image is a
basic floorplan of a villa – photos left and right show the highlighted area
(ie: one of the inside cages), put together outside SEMCO’s plant.
Since everything fit together as planned, the steelwork will now be shipped to
Atlanta for galvanizing (that rusty look will go away!) next week. We’re
hoping to start the staging for the construction of Silverback Villa by mid
April, at which time Chad Bowers and his Better Building Systems will
construct the Steel Master building over the inside cages, once they’re set
in the concrete.
Steuart,
Pete and I were all blown away by the scale of the cagework, which will allow
for plenty of room for the gorillas even during times they do not have access
to their 8.5 acre outside habitat. And since the outdoor cages are
inside the 15 foot high concrete wall, gorillas can have a choice of being
inside or outside virtually 24 hours a day, which is a nice change from what
most zoos are able to provide.
Meanwhile
the perimeter and boundary fencing are getting their final touches, including
posting Criminal Trespass signs and warnings of the electrified perimeter
fence according to state and local regulations. Anyone coming up to the
perimeter fence from our boundary has already trespassed at least 500 yards or
more onto our property! Among the cables and utilities we’ve been
trenching and laying are for a video and computer system for surveillance of
the gorillas (as well as people) to cover the 60 acre plus area of Phases 1
through 3.
The
initial video surveillance has already proven useful last week. We have
8 dogs and 4 of them are put in the play yard near our cabin at night.
Steuart was looking outside after dark and saw one of the dogs, Mali, by the
front of the cabin. He went out and scolded her for burrowing under the
fence of the play yard, since she didn’t have her collar on. Mali whined and
followed him back to the play yard, where Koko, Pelli, Limbe …. and Mali!
– greeted Steuart and this new dog! Turns out it’s Mali’s virtual
twin brother and since he gets along with everyone – feline, canine and
human, we’re letting him stay. His name is Doogie Bowser and most
people think he and Mali are the same dog too!
This spring promises to be busier than ever!