I see a chimp in this enclosure- after they left were a pair of Olive Baboons in here?- I remember I saw a pair in a cage like this on my second visit to FP.
There was animal-related music on my recent visit - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" etc, but best of all "Farmer Bill's Cowman". To say I was excited is an understatement. I was desperate to film something with it in the background but the Ruffed Lemurs started screeching at each other while it was on. Nevertheless it does not get better than Flamingo Land and The Wurzels - that must be heaven on earth.
Your photo shows the chimp accommodation as refurbished in 1970The other 2 monkey cages wre part of the original development. Inside the building was a nocturnal section for a breeding pair of Giant Anteaters,and sleeping dens for the chimps.
In the background is the Reptile house,replacing a wooden building. We negotiated the large windows with Everest, who were allowed to pitch a stand on the carpark
I have happy memories of the inside of the building all those years ago. I am sorry that the Reptile House has been closed, especially as it had some very nice iron railings!
Just looked at my notes for my visit of 12th February 2000, and the Olive Baboons were in these cages then - this was actually before the demolition of the two primate blocks (only the Mangabey, formerly cat cages, had been demolished by this time).
