The 'pit' has now been filled in , leaving the building surrounded by a garden show-casing various types of plants , including 'carnivorous' ones in a glass case . It was very popular when housing lively breeding groups of macaque .
I have a feeling the barbary sheep had access to an indoor shelter via a door at the bottom of the pit directly below the visitor wall, I don't think the central building was for them. I don't remember them being kept with the macaques for long. I really hated this building, so unforginving.
I don't recall the tigers ever being kept in here. Certainly they occupied the polar bear enclosure subsequent to their demise.
I liked this monkey temple. It was one of the exhibits that characterised Bristol Zoo for me. It wouldn't be acceptable now in the same format but with a little softening I don't see why it couldn't be.
I too think that the Barbary Sheep had separate accomodation than the temple.
In the guide book of the time this exhibit was called 'monkey temple' & Paradoxurus also calls it this. So my question is, did it ever have monkeys in it & if so what type / when?
The Monkey Temple certainly did have monkeys in it for most of the time that I knew it . I believe originally Rhesus , then later Long-tailed Macaques . Two small higher level entrances for the monkeys can be seen to the top left of the photo . I also think it has a domed roof .
I do not remember the Tigers being in it though I think there was talk about it being re-developed for them .
