Zoo Manager, Sue Woodgate has struck the first symbolic blow to one of the oldest areas of the zoo at Drusillas Park, marking the start of renovations to a brand new macaque enclosure due to open by Easter 2010.
Drusillas has looked after Sulawesi black crested macaques for many years. However, the current enclosure was beginning to look tired and is one of the last parts of the zoo to be refurbished.
Once completed, the new enclosure will be home to a larger breeding group of macaques and has been designed to provide them with plenty of creature comforts, ideal for some monkey mayhem.
In addition to their previous stomping ground, the neighbouring slide has been removed to make way for a large indoor space, comprising of two heated rooms and an undercover viewing area for visitors.
The macaques’ outside quarters will also be made bigger and the roof will be removed to create an open topped exhibit. Imaginative planting and branching will be introduced to generate an exciting surrounding for the monkeys and a multilayer rockery will provide plenty of places to climb and play.
Unique viewing opportunities have also been incorporated into the design to allow visitors to feel completely immersed within the experience. A full length glass partition will be used to maximise viewing potential, as well as rockwork spy holes and a crawl in cave.
In the wild, Sulawesi black crested macaques are only found in the tropical rainforests on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Sadly, they are now regarded as endangered in the wild, mainly due to the destruction of the forests in which they live, hunting and the pet industry. The family at Drusillas will form part of an International breeding programme, created to secure the survival of the species in the future.
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Photo: Zoo Manager, Sue Woodgate starts the renovations
For more information please contact:
Claire Peters
Head of Public Relations
Drusillas Park
T: 01323 874112
E: claire.peters@drusillas.co.uk