New chimpanzee complex to open at the Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo's new chimpanzee complex opens to the public this week. The Penny and Jock Fortune International Chimpanzee Complex is one of the largest in the U.S. and will house one of the largest communities for the great apes. 

21 chimpanzees are currently living in the habitat that opens May 25. The structures that house the animals stretch across the zoo and include three indoor/outdoor spaces connected by a quarter mile of chimpanzee trail. 

Indianapolis Zoo President and CEO Dr. Rob Shumaker said the elevated pathway is a key part of the exhibit.

“What we want to do is give them the choice to make decisions about where they want to go and what they want to do and who they want to do it with,” Shumaker said.

Shumaker said the last chimpanzee exhibit built at an accredited zoo in the U.S. is nearly 20 years old. This new home will build on work the Indianapolis Zoo started with the International Orangutan Center, where great apes are engaged in cognition work that includes problem solving and linguistics.

Zoo Director of Research Chris Martin said they hope to engage in some comparative studies.

“Where we can give the same puzzles and tasks to both orangutans and the chimpanzees and kind of investigate how their thinking and perception is similar and how it's different,” Martin said.

Shumaker said another lesson they’ve learned is that the connection helps conservation efforts.

“This concept of portraying the apes authentically letting them behave the way that is normal and natural for them is unbelievably compelling for our visitors,” Shumaker said.

The new complex will allow for close encounters with the apes at a variety of locations.

The zoo will have a reproductive program and hope to increase the community in the coming years.

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.