While any lushly planted spot in the San Diego Zoo is nice for a relaxing pause in your stroll through the grounds, the walk-through aviaries are especially tranquil. As you amble through Scripps Aviary in Gorilla Tropics®, be sure to stop now and then to sit on the pathway benches. As you look around, you'll get a good feel for the flora and fauna you'd see in an African forest—without the man-eating carnivores and poisonous snakes! The aviary even has waterfalls and gentle showers.
You'll notice that the trees and bushes are not trimmed and groomed like the plants on our grounds. There's a reason for that. Our aviary plants are extremely important for encouraging natural avian behavior, whether the birds use them for marking territories, making nests, or as special perches for courtship displays. This is why the plants and trees in all our aviaries tend to have a more natural, wilder look.
The Zoo's horticultural treasures are very important for our gorillas' health and contentment. The lush vegetation of Gorilla Tropics, combined with a variety of browse to snack on and play with, has led to a healthy family life for our gorilla troop, as well as plenty of baby gorillas through the years.
