COLORADO ZOO MONKEYS AROUND WITH NEW HABITAT.

Byline: Daily News wire services

The Primate Panorama - one of the zoo world's largest primate facilities, including one of the country's largest outdoor habitats dedicated to the endangered lowland gorilla - will open July 30 at the Denver Zoo.

One of the many highlights of the Denver Zoo's 100th anniversary celebration, new primate area includes five acres of lush, natural habitats that emphasize the animals' social needs and comfort.

Artists, biologists, curators, veterinarians, architects and horticulturists helped design and construct the $14 million, state-of-the-art facility that took nine years to plan and build. Primate Panorama will be home to 29 different species of primates, with one acre reserved for a family of four lowland gorillas from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

``Primate Panorama's mission concentrates on caring for the animals' needs and stimulating normal social behaviors by creating spacious, naturalistic habitats,'' said zoo director Clayton Freiheit.

The exhibit pays close attention to detail, from simulated mud-pack walkways to human hand prints in the faux-mud walls of the African shamba (farm) village. Several species will share habitats demonstrating the interdependence of animals and their normal behaviors.

Primate Panorama includes more than 84,000 square feet of outdoor exhibitry and more than 26,000 square feet of indoor habitats. The primate exhibits will provide natural environments for orangutans, New and Old World monkeys, lemurs and great apes among others.

The zoo is in Denver City Park, on 23rd Avenue between York and Colorado Boulevard. Open every day (hours vary depending on season), admission is $6 for adults, $3 children age 4-12 and seniors 62 and older. Information: [phone].

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Photo: This Sumatran orangutan is one of the primates who'l l get a new home at the Denver Zoo.