Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre 2012

Javan Rhino said:
As for 'because it's good for the breeding programme' - I'm sorry, but generally the breeding programme is why a lot of animals are in zoos, not for our enjoyment [that is an aside]
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The purpose of zoos? - that is a whole different can of worms.
 
OrangePerson said:
I feel very sad that we are failing a very large number of the great apes kept in zoos
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I visited Rostock Zoo some years ago when they had still their outdated enclosures for the primates. At that time I was very impressed how concerned the staff seemed to be about this fact, and there was also quite obviously a very personal approach to each animal.
The zoo over all was very friendly and transparent, as the director himself answered immediately to my remaining questions.

Not knowing Hsaio-Ning, I understood, that some of you are a bit worried how she will cope with the change.
I remember the outstanding gesture of Zoo Leipzig, who took their Orang-Utan Walter back from Sweden, as he suffered so much from home-sickness, that he refused to eat.
In the worst scenario, I am sure, M.W. and Rostock would be two partners willing to talk it over.

Your attachment to Hsaio-Ning and "the failing of the great apes" reminds me of an own broken attachment which leaves open questions to me:
Do perhaps hybrids have the worst fate of all primates in the zoo business? I know at least of three Orang-Utans that were dumped in South America, with little or no possibility to follow up what since has been happening to them.
 
People on here are not particularly worried about how she will cope over and above her issues with adult male orangs and this seems a good solution. The discussion is about the attitude of Monkey World and their many followers on Facebook (very many as a result of TV exposure) to moving one of the residents on, the 'apologetic' Facebook announcement. At Monkey World the animals are not nameless animals, (which there seems to be more of a move towards in many zoos which are removing all reference to individuals on signage and websites) they are portrayed as individuals with personalities. The success of the TV programme rests on people engaging with the residents in this way, the downside of this is that when one is moved away people feel they've lost a friend. At most zoos people on the whole know that animals will be moved on.

A separate issue which I possibly should not have brought into this thread was a more general feeling that we are failing a lot of the apes in the zoo system.
 
Taisha said:
Do perhaps hybrids have the worst fate of all primates in the zoo business? I know at least of three Orang-Utans that were dumped in South America, with little or no possibility to follow up what since has been happening to them.
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I suspect they do. Rajang at Colchester is an icon but some view him as a pointless animal preventing 'proper' animals from establishing a breeding group.
 
Apologies OP, I see where you're coming from now :)

For the record, whilst I do see valuable genes I do see individuals as well and understand that people do get attached [the sheer amount of personality in my animals is amazing] :)
 
JamesB said:
You can argue for hours but they are just the same as any other collection in the UK, call it a zoo or not.
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My point is that MW do not see themselves as a ZOO,and they get very upset if you call them one,when in fact like you say they are no different to any other animal collection in the UK.But they will not agree with you on that either!
 
zoogiraffe said:
My point is that MW do not see themselves as a ZOO,and they get very upset if you call them one,when in fact like you say they are no different to any other animal collection in the UK.But they will not agree with you on that either!
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I think the only major difference between MonkeyWorld and other UK zoos is that they originated as a Primate Rescue Centre and that is still what they are fundamentally, although as they charge for admission etc they have also become a 'Zoo' in the process.

Regarding the female Orang being sent to Germany. Its the very first time MW have ever parted with one of their Apes like this, whereas such transfers at other collections are a lot more routine. Hence the public and concerned announcements no doubt. It seems this female's humanised background is the only reason this transfer is taking place as otherwise she would have joined one of their existing groups and this is also their first experience of this type of failure. But as they are now involved with the EEP Orangutan programme- they rear youngsters for them - they might repeat this with other individuals in the future.
 
Awan

What is happening with orang Awan, born in May? I can't see any mention of her on the MW website and don't belong to Facebook. The last I heard was that she'd been rejected by mum, Hsiao-Lan but 'adopted' by Hsiao-Quai.
 
Do perhaps hybrids have the worst fate of all primates in the zoo business? I know at least of three Orang-Utans that were dumped in South America, with little or no possibility to follow up what since has been happening to them.
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In the 1970's era there were a quite a lot of hybrid Orangutans being produced, as Zoos had started to breed Orangs successfully but hadn't learned at that stage to distinguish between the two species. Later, as zoos adjusted their collections to hold only purebeds, some of these hybrids found their way to zoos in Eastern Europe and 'third world' countries where housing is far from ideal. Some of them are probably still there.

Before the introduction of male 'bachelor' Gorilla groups, several solitary/unwanted male Gorillas from Western Europe Zoos followed a similar path too. Again, a few of them are still living in far from ideal conditions.
 
Latest update from Monkey World was that Hsiao Ning had travelled and settled in suprising well so far (arriving early Tuesday morning with Miri not far behind) She's been introduced to both Miri and Sabas (albeit not with both at the same time yet) with positive results.
All appearing to be going to plan so far (touch wood)
 
As far as I know, which was pretty recently, Probably last week a friend put pics on Facebook, Awan is still being cared for by Hsaio-Quai who is feeding both Awan and her own baby Jin.
 
I have been to Monkey world once and liked it very much but I did feel that there was a highly politicised mantra about zoos and the 'pet trade', as it was repeatedly called (sometimes really meaning private breeders, or individual pets or the international pet trade proper).

Some of the enclosures were not massively different from what you might see in a conventional zoo and often contained many more animals. I can see that having familiarised their visitors with the apes there will have been mixed feelings about sending an animal elsewhere.

However, if they exist as 'ape rescue' rather than a sanctuary, then that is exactly what I think they should be doing, if the circumstances are right. They might just need to back off a little on some of their comments about zoos.
 
I was interested to find out on the MW website that it does not operate as a Charity , though it does have 2 associated charities , one related to Jim Cronin , the other for Asian primates . I wonder if they are able to operate 'Gift Aid' on their entrance fees , linked to the charities ? Does any one who has visited know ? This would make a big difference to their income and the non-profit big collections such as Chester , Bristol , ZSL , use it .
 
I can't say for sure as I'm a member so just flash my card on enter, but I've never noticed anyone being asked to gift aid.
 
A new species for the park in the form of a male White Faced Saki Monkey who arrived earlier this week. He is being housed with the Squrriel Monkey's :)
 
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