ideas for rhesus macaque enclosures

[Jo]

I am doing a major reno on the rhesus macaque enclosure we have here at Bredls. I was hoping some of our overseas members might have some photos of enclosures for macaques they think are outstanding, so I can pinch some ideas. The reno will be in the form of cage additions, rather than knock down and rebuild. We have two sections to their enclosure, indoor and outdoor, very small so enrichments and furniture are the go here.

I know all the standard forms of enrichment and furniture, but hoping to find some innovative ideas.

 

[ZYBen]

How about bullets to the head best enrichment for Rhesus!

For those who dont know one of these macaques tried to kill me! he grabbed me by the head and tried to pull me in to kill me!

 

[Jo]

Yah, they did. But I've forgiven them after they asked me to pass on their apologies! George and Mildred say sorry for that rude welcome they gave you.

 

[Pygathrix]

How about a pinata in the form of a zoo youth?

 

[PAT]

I don't know if it has much in the form of enrichment but i am pretty sure there is one on zoolex that is mixed with a type of bear.

 

[Jo]

Can't do any mixed exhibits, these guys are old and they won't be having a bigger enclosure made for them and the current one is way too small for more than them. I am thinking about a pond, would be good for thermoregulation and to let them fish food out of.

 

[nicholas]

Sight/visual barriers is crucial ina rhesus enclosure, both indoor and outdoors, due to their aggresive nature. This can enlarge the enclosure alot for the subordinate individuals. Since you know all the standard forms of enrichment I'm not sure what I can say that you don't already know, but everything that prolongs feeding is very good with macaques. I've made a feeding station that consists of a spinning tube, where treats fall out randomly (sort of a boomer ball, but in the form of a fixed, spinning tube). The treats then fall into astro turf. This is placed outside of their enclosure, so they have to reach out with their arms to use it.

 

[Jo]

There is only two in there, an old pair who I have never seen show any agonistic behaviours towards each other, so luckily that is not a problem so no visual barriers needed. I have obtained some carpet to make some fleece boards, so will be similar to the astro turf. Just had some donated aussie dog toys arrive today, so the spinning tube is covered as well!

I am looking for something funky to do that will be different that will make their 'castle' (yes, they literally live in a small castle) comfortable and fun, in addition to the food enrichments.

 

[Jurek7]

There is only two in there, an old pair

I have lots of ideas of rhesus exhibits, but for old pair in a cage:

Leafy branches and bamboo should be well received by both monkeys and visitors. If monkeys don't like them, try planting a live plant.

Turn them into chimps - install a small food bowl just outside the cage, so they can lick youghurt etc. from fingers or sticks. Need to have two.

Spread food, (peanuts, sunflower seeds etc.) on the floor and cover them with layer of bark chips or dead leaves or hay or straw or peat. Spreading and collecting is possibly time-consuming for staff.

Install pool.

Pick some estetic plastic bowl, fill with hay and turn it into hammock.

Put feeder or food bits on wire roof to encourage climbing. The less accessible place, the better.

cheers, put picture of your rhesus in gallery!

 

[Jo]

I have lots of ideas of rhesus exhibits, but for old pair in a cage:

Leafy branches and bamboo should be well received by both monkeys and visitors. If monkeys don't like them, try planting a live plant.

Turn them into chimps - install a small food bowl just outside the cage, so they can lick youghurt etc. from fingers or sticks. Need to have two.

Spread food, (peanuts, sunflower seeds etc.) on the floor and cover them with layer of bark chips or dead leaves or hay or straw or peat. Spreading and collecting is possibly time-consuming for staff.

Install pool.

Pick some estetic plastic bowl, fill with hay and turn it into hammock.

Put feeder or food bits on wire roof to encourage climbing. The less accessible place, the better.

cheers, put picture of your rhesus in gallery!

I have just cleaned out the castle and spread a bale of bedding straw and they get grain thrown in that. Also installing holders for browse, giving it to them now anyway, I think a live plant won't last too long. These dudes won't use sticks so I need to make sure they can reach with fingers, but yogurt bowl is a good idea (am making dipping tubes for the capuchins).

Good idea with the hay filled hammock, though I may have to semi attach, a lot of primates don't like the instability when they climb into loose hammocks.

To show what I am dealing with I have attached a pic of before I started the reno. I don't like the exhibit any more that you will, but it is not getting rebuilt so I have to work with it.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Must be heritage listed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Jo, only joking.

Knowing a little [very little] about George and Mildred I feel that you have already covered most of their options.

I'd suggest that any arboreal opportunities that you give them be made of planks rather than boughs. The wider surface will be safer for their arthriticky old hands and feet. Feeding outside the cage and on top of it,[within reach obviously] as well as inside, will vary their routine. Maybe additions to their diet such as hard boiled egg, cooked rice, hot potatoes cooked in the skin for cold nights??????? Our old timers heat up their hands in the hot spud, scoff it down then put their hot hands under their arms to help keep warm.

By all means try the pool but don't be surprised if old Rhesus don't enter it. Our babies love the pool but the oldies won't go in it for love nor money. They will, however, fish food out of it so it will be worthwhile from that viewpoint alone. It will take just a few minutes for the pool water to resemble soup!

How are their teeth? Sometimes it is advisable to steam carrots, broccoli, swedes etc for old monks.

Will they take mealworms and/or crickets? Some oldtimers will be scared of them if they haven't experienced them before. Sorry bird lovers but ours sometimes catch Mudlarks and Mynas as well. See Ben for a supply! [Maybe not].

Will keep my thinking cap on.

Try a wide range of browse in season - mulberry leaves are highly prized by ours as are cotoneaster, hibiscus, ficus, kikuyu runners etc. Don't expect any plant to live in there for long!

 

[Steve Robinson]

Thinking cap working ...............For fresh browse ours love mulberry leaves, cotoneaster, hibiscus, ficus etc. Don't expect a live plant to last too long though!

 

[Steve Robinson]

Sorry about the duplication. Haven't quite got the hang of this yet. Must be on the wrong side of the generation gap!

 

[MARK]

Thinking cap working ...............For fresh browse ours love mulberry leaves, cotoneaster, hibiscus, ficus etc. Don't expect a live plant to last too long though!

I can fix that problem Steve with a steel mesh guard made to fit over whatever is planted inside so the bottom half is protected and only when the plants shoots its branches and leaves though the mesh can they pick, chew, and break any of the plant but not the bottom half, plus the steel mesh guard can be use for climbing as a frame

 

[Steve Robinson]

Yep, I've seen that done very successfully Mark. The only problem in the castle might be lack of space. The mesh guard needs to be far enough out from the plant to stop long arms reaching in and denuding the leaves or even ringbarking the plant. That, of course, reduces the amount of space left inside the enclosure - to the detriment of the animals. One thing that we have done here is to plant mulberry trees, cotoneasters etc OUTSIDE some of our primate enclosures. The tree gets to grow safely and the monkeys get to reach out through the mesh and prune the foliage, when it gets close enough, without damaging the tree. At Rockhampton Zoo they grow some bamboo species and a hibiscus inside the enclosure without guards. But that enclosure is for Rhesus/Common Macaque hybrids and Commons are nowhere near as tough on their environment as Rhesus. Over the years they have tried other plant species inside without guards but, as far as I know, only the Bamboos and Hibiscus have been successful.

 

[MARK]

Yep, I've seen that done very successfully Mark. The only problem in the castle might be lack of space. The mesh guard needs to be far enough out from the plant to stop long arms reaching in and denuding the leaves or even ringbarking the plant. That, of course, reduces the amount of space left inside the enclosure

Steve, I would say in this case to use 25mm squire wire on the sides with 75mm by 50mm on the top that should stop any thin arms going in from the sides with room enough for plant growth out of the top and easy to make

 

[PAT]

That picture of their cage reminds me of the guinea pig cage at wagga wagga zoo

 

[Trigger]

Mine love a big pile of fresh grass. They have a hammock which they love. card board boxes keep them busy for ages as mine love to chew things up.As said previously anything that involves food seems to work well with Rhesus. Mine won't take any form of meat, inc live food. Theydo enjoy scrambled egg in holes in logs though. Iuse old fire hose for them to clamber on. Its Macaque proof and easy to gt hold of. We just asked the local fire station and they donated a pile of old hose. Hav fun!!

 

[Jo]

Thanks Steve and everyone else, some great advice there. I am happy if they dip their hands in the water when it is hot, that is enough to help cool them down. I do plan on cooking them some eggs and potatoes, and will do some other root veggies as well. I think their teeth are ok at the moment, they are quite hostile at times (ask Ben, hehehe) so getting them conditioned to open their mouths is going to be a long term project.

I am trying to figure out if I can fit in a wired grow cage, have always wanted to try one out, but it is a space issue. Also, water is a major problem here, we are in a semi arid area that is experiencing a major drought, so I can't splash as much around as I'd like. I am planting a monkey garden for the capuchins as well, and the area directly around the outside of the macaques is a possibility to grow extra herbs and edible shrubs.

They are in good health so I assume teeth are ok, and by the time it gets cooler I will have the cooker set up to give them warm dinners.

The aussie dog toys arrived yesterday as well, so that is another thing that prolongs food processing. I'll get some more pics tomorrow or Monday as well.

 

[Jurek7]

Hi,

Nice to help!

Yes, try all kinds of novelty foods - for two rhesus it can be leftovers from your lunch or from other animals' food. If they really like something, give them only as a bribe.

Yes, plant some edible plants behind/near the cage to pick leaves.

I think the cage still has space for more climbing equipment. Would put it along the sides and back of the cage. Would put vertical poles in the corners and nail 2-3 about level branches anong sides and back of the cage.

Rope is also good, but don't make it loose.

Wonder if they can chew thru plastic bottle. If not, put few live crickets or cherries inside, fill with loose straw.

Seen funny gorilla feeder in Basel. A box of thick, transparent plastic with really small hole in the bottom, attached to the side of the cage. Some large food (e.g. boiled potato or carrot) was inside. Much bigger than the hole. Removing it piece by piece needed really lots of picking and biting.

cheers!