Gorillas at the Philadelphia Zoo are getting a chance to explore their surroundings.
Zoo officials plan to unveil the $2.5 million Gorilla Treeway on Wednesday. It's the latest addition to a campuswide system of trails for animals including monkeys, orangutans and big cats.
The elevated treeway lets five Western lowland gorillas travel about 300 feet along a protected, open-air pathway. It will be in regular use starting Saturday.
The mesh-enclosed trails are designed to enrich the experience of both creatures and guests: They allow animals to wander and visitors to see them in unexpected places.
Zoo officials say hoofed animals like rhinos and giraffes will eventually get to stretch their legs, too.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
