You can now see gorillas year-round at the Cincinnati Zoo

Cincinnati Enquirer

Gladys, left and Mona, western lowland gorillas, play in Gorilla World to the appreciation of the large crowd that came out to see the reopened exhibit.

Year-round viewing. Face-to-face interaction. Modern lighting.

These are just a few of the newest features at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden's expanded Gorilla World exhibit.

The zoo announced the grand re-opening of the exhibit Tuesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, concluding a $12 million multi-phase renovation that began in 2015.

The new-and-improved exhibit includes new features for both the public and the gorillas, the zoo said in a Tuesday news release.

For the gorillas, the exhibit now includes a naturalistic setting with trees, vines, natural daylight, and a more energy-efficient stream and waterfall; modifications to the outdoor habitat to promote healthy interaction among family members, and a new space for colobus monkeys.

The project also includes changes that visitors won't see, such as brand-new bedroom and living areas, and configurations for the gorillas behind the scenes.

On the visitors' end, the new indoor facility now allows year-round viewing, provides better tools for the zoo to care for the animals and offers more ways for the public to learn about gorillas.

Jerry Douglas of Hyde Park and daughter, Mia, 6, at the Gorilla World exhibit after it reopened Tuesday after safety changes at the Cincinnati Zoo. Douglas said he barely noticed it was different.

Still outside the outdoor facility is the 42-inch-high fence the zoo installed following the death of Harambe, the 17-year-old Western lowland gorilla that was killed in May 2016 after a 3-year-old boy climbed into the exhibit. The expansion was already in the works prior to that incident.

Can't wait to see what's new? The public will be able to view the new exhibit beginning 6 p.m. Wednesday, the zoo said.