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Chimpanzee and Mangabey Habitats Set for Refurbishment
Wed 23 September 2026 - 1 min read
Chimpanzee and Mangabey Habitats Set for Refurbishment
Dublin Zoo is preparing to carry out a programme of improvement works to our chimpanzee and mangabey habitats, designed to ensure the spaces continue to meet the evolving needs of the groups and support their health, wellbeing and natural behaviours.
As part of our ongoing approach to animal care, our team regularly reviews habitats across the Zoo to identify opportunities to enhance the environments in which our animals live.
Mangabey habitat renovations
While the renovations are taking place, the mangabeys will be temporarily off show and will therefore not be visible to visitors. Their care, welfare, enrichment and daily routines will continue to be managed by Dublin Zoo’s experienced animal care team throughout this period.
We know that the mangabeys are a much-loved part of a visit to Dublin Zoo and appreciate that visitors may be disappointed not to see them while these works are underway. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank visitors for their patience and understanding while we carry out these important improvements.
Chimpanzee habitat refurbishment
The refurbishments planned for the chimpanzee habitat include:
- New skylights to bring more natural light into the indoor space.
- A new bridge connecting the house to the habitat, giving the chimpanzees more choice in how they move between the different areas.
- Improvements to the main house, including new natural climbing structures made from branches and trees. These will create a more interesting and varied indoor space, with more opportunities for the chimpanzees to climb, explore and spend time above ground.
- A new climbing structure outdoors that will give the chimpanzees more space to explore at different heights and more opportunities to climb and move above the ground.
Chimpanzees are naturally strong climbers, so having more opportunities to move at different heights helps keep them active and provides important stimulation for both their bodies and minds.
The chimpanzees will remain visible from the current visitor viewing points until works begin, which are estimated to start on 24 September 2026. Once the refurbishment gets underway, the full group will move together to a temporary habitat for approximately eight weeks.
While visitors will not be able to see the chimpanzees during this period, their temporary habitat will provide everything the group needs, with their care, welfare, enrichment and daily routines continuing to be managed by Dublin Zoo’s experienced animal care team.
The group will remain together throughout the works and will return together to their refurbished habitat once the improvements are complete.
Reunited group
The upcoming refurbishment comes following a number of positive changes for the chimpanzee group over recent months.
Visitors may recall that Austin and his son Bossou had been living separately from the main group. This arrangement was made for their wellbeing after challenges arose within the group following the introduction of a new dominant male in late 2020.
Our animal care team had been working carefully to find a suitable new home for dominant male Marlon, where his individual needs and particular social history could be appropriately supported. We are pleased to confirm that Marlon has now moved to Belfast Zoo, where he is doing well.
Following Marlon’s move, Austin and Bossou were successfully reintroduced to Pia and Malou. The four chimpanzees have been living together in the same habitat since early summer 2026 and will remain together in their temporary accommodation while the refurbishment works take place.
We know how much our chimpanzees mean to generations of Dublin Zoo visitors and appreciate that people will miss seeing the group while the habitat is being refurbished.
Updates will be shared on dublinzoo.ie and across Dublin Zoo’s social media channels, including confirmation of when the chimpanzees and mangabeys are back on view.
