Zoo Tours: The New! Primate Canopy Trails | Saint Louis Zoo

EPISODE 108
The Saint Louis Zoo is famous for many, many things. It's where Sea Lions can fly over your head, penguins are within a hand's reach, the hoofstock collection is undisputed, and, oh yeah, it's free! All of this is what makes Saint Louis such a unique place, but on this episode, we'll talk about just how well they are at keeping their history alive - at the Historic Hill. Three nearly century year-old buildings are still standing and well alive with Reptiles, Birds, and Primates! But sometimes, you have to, as the saying goes, move on and let go of the past. While the Primate House still stands, the zoo used $13 million not for a renovation, but for something completely new. The Primate Canopy Trails was unveiled in the summer of 2021, a positively chaotic 35,000 square foot outdoor expansion. Prior to this project, only a few species had outdoor access while the rest remained in 70's era indoor enclosures. Now EVERY primate has the opportunity to explore the great outdoors within eight meshed habitats, and all of them are connected by overhead tunnels to create an unpredictable rotation. That's over 70 different combinations, so you have no idea where and what you're going to see on your visit! It isn't just a major improvement for it's animals, but it also set out to encourage people to understand the importance of primate's life in the trees, and why a flourishing canopy is significant to all sorts of wildlife. If you like Zoo History, Leaf monkeys jumping all over the walls, baby colobus monkeys, and Lemurs who love to hop, this episode is for you. Enjoy!
The Primate Complex's Species List (Some May Not Have Outdoor Access)
• Allen's Swamp Monkey
• Francois' Langur
• Spectacled Langur
• Ring-tailed Lemur
• Mongoose Lemur
• Black-and-White Colobus
• Coquerel's Sifaka
• Black-handed Spider Monkey
• White-faced Saki
• Golden Lion Tamarin
• Cotton-top Tamarin
• Goeldi's Monkey
• Black and White Ruffed Lemur (Heavily used in promotions, saw no sign of them)
• Geoffroy's Marmoset (Was indoors, and was the only Primate that didn't have signage outside)
• Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth (I'm positive they're an indoor animal only)
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[@Powerranger-le4up]

One of my favorite memories of the primate house occurred in 2019. I had been letting the Colobus monkeys look at pictures of players in my Baseball Hall of Famers book when I temporarily left to use the bathroom. When I came back, they were still sitting at the glass, wanting to see more pictures. Since I am a volunteer at the St. Louis Zoo, I sometimes provide my own enrichment for the animals. A 52 year old orangutan named Merah is one of my favorite animals to interact with because she loves to look at pictures. She will look at pictures of ballplayers for as long as she wants and I’ve also been letting her look at pictures of Pokémon in a book I purchased a couple months ago. An intern told me that she’s picky about who she interacts with and I’m lucky that I’m one of them. My relationship with her isn’t as close as her bond with her keepers is, but she’s always happy to see me.

[@Powerranger-le4up]

That langur running around is Deshi. He’s just doing his job. The males are very protective of the females and they make noise and make themselves look big as a display towards rival males. He’s basically saying, “These are my ladies. Stay away from them.”

[@kapuzinergruft]

Some years ago I stayed on a camp site in the Kheang Krachan National Park in Thailand, like living in a zoo. Spectacled langurs come down to the meadow and play, gibbons calling out for each other, wild elephants nudging their way through the bamboo thicket, birds of all kinds and colour. Leaf birds, hornbills, sultan tits, you name it you have it... 😊 the best zoo in my country Leipzig, Gondwanaland,

[@natureguyx46presents7]

I love this exhibit.

[@Darkplasma26]

I am a huge animal lover and this is probably one my favorite KZbin channels EVER!

[@the_gaming_hyena24]

I LOVE this area of the zoo!

[@noahm398]

I think the zoo did a great job on this exhibit! I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this for myself, just over a month ago.

[@Powerranger-le4up]

Since I am a volunteer docent at the St. Louis Zoo, I’ve known about the primate canopy for a couple years and was excited when it opened since I knew it would be great for the welfare of the monkeys. It’s a favorite of mine to docent at since the monkeys are very active when outside.

[@Zoove1]

This is a great video Zak!!!

[@ZooTours]

Thank you very much, and thank you for joining the crew!

[@Zoove1]

@@ZooTours Also did you know I am also from Cincinnati?

[@ieatatsonic]

I'm looking forward to a year or two when the trees really come in. For now it's exciting to see the primates up close, especially now that they've accustomed to being outside.

[@Powerranger-le4up]

The zoo actually delayed opening Primate Canopy a couple months after construction was finished so that the animals could get used to the new enclosures.

[@lesliechu8879]

Mangasitka!!! Which zoo are you visiting next for Episode 109 soon? Try visiting the San Diego Zoo Safari Park sooner or later! Leaping Leaellynasaura!🐒

[@vivalavivarium]

thankyou so much, we try so hard and care so much

[@graphite2786]

Very interesting design, I'm sure in a few years, when the vegetation grows, it will be an amazing exhibit. I hope they do something with the old primate building. I love seeing old architecture re-utilised with modern materials and design. It would make a great marmoset/ tamarin house, especially with the lush atrium

[@HonestlyAnnaFun]

They grow lots of vegetation that the primates eat, like sumac.

[@redtycooner1038]

There used to be a small species in that central atrium. It didn't last long though

[@mywalkingstickstudio3561]

It remains indoor exhibit space for the animals shown outdoors. They can choose where to be. That's the beautiful thing about this. I can't wait to see it.

[@orionsmithey3009]

Please make more videos at the store Louis zoo.

[@glenngilbert7389]

Love sifakas - good reason to put St Louis on my zoo tour list when I eventually get to the states

[@Powerranger-le4up]

Best of all, the admission is free.

[@Powerranger-le4up]

3:31 That is Snuffy. He lives with his mate, Dahlia.

[@Powerranger-le4up]

3:17 the windows on that white building also help the primates have privacy when they want to. The primates can see us, but we can’t see them.

[@ohyes8949]

I should probably visit this exhibit

[@WPower276]

Hello there, mine if I suggest? How about the updated lion house of Lincoln Park Zoo?

[@WPower276]

@@TheRandomZooVisitor why not?

[@WPower276]

@@TheRandomZooVisitor why not?

[@ZooTours]

If you think that, you'll be in for a surprise this January.

[@Darkplasma26]

@@ZooTours Oh now you got me hyped!!!

[@ZooTours]

Though it isn't the lion exhibit, I didnt voluntarily go to the zoo (for once) and it wasn't open yet.

[@rbblades9511]

Awesome ! Thx for the vids Zak !

[@PhillipNeumeier]

Oh yeah! Another video from St. Louis Zoo!

[@graffic13]

I could see toledo zoo doing something like this if they ever take over walbridge Park it would be cool if the primates could live in those mature trees by day and move back to the main zoo at night

[@Powerranger-le4up]

3:36 That is Lola. She lives with the lemurs.

[@salamigecko736]

you should visit the Calgary zoo in Calgary Alberta Canada! Maybe visit in the summer lol

[@Steveofthejungle8]

I went in the winter a few years ago and I got to see the penguin walk! It was so much fun!

[@jeffreymurray2251]

Amazing exhibit it reminds me of African Rocks and MonkeyTrails at the San Diego Zoo

[@dinomation]

Thats a lot of lemurs!

[@elephantlover8365]

Great video!

[@junglejonah5806]

Fantastic Video!!

[@kiefergibbs5555]

Wow! What an Exhibit

[@xavier_da_one6268]

It use to have a siamang gibbon in the center

[@christianbontempo8859]

ZOBOOMAFO!

[@Shrock568]

The St.Louis zoo’s next big thing will be Destination Discoveries opening summer of 2026

[@incredastudios7239]

Wait a second. The lines sound familiar. You copied the virtual zoo on his video.

[@TheVirtualZoo]

Perhaps you could allude to which lines in particular you are referring too? Yes, they are quite similar, as there isn’t much one can do with a primate house and a cluster of ABC exhibits, but I know he would never intentionally copy me, nor would I to him.

[@daisystienen3233]

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[@motoc5071]

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