I am not sure but there are what look like two monkeys on the ground near the posts on the left hand side?(but maybe not..) generally I would agree to an extent about Forest monkeys- they probably pop in and out and so use the open outdoor area part of the time. Bristol's De Brazzas used their outoor area (more wooded than this one) only sparingly. At Port Lympne I have seen them outdoors more often- but that enclosure is light years away from this one.
Sure, there are two guenons close to some leaves and (I guess) food. I think that if monkeys do not use outdoors enclosures, planners should ask something to themselves.
Sure, there are two guenons close to some leaves and (I guess) food. I think that if monkeys do not use outdoors enclosures, planners should ask something to themselves.
The original intention here was to display Langurs in this outdoor setting. It was advertised as 'Coming soon- outdoor Langurs' Not sure which species- Javan or Francois probably as they currently have both (+ Spectacled also). Langurs are larger and generally bolder than Guenons so might have made a better display. I don't know why the decision was made to change to the Guenons instead.
On the evidence of this photo – I have not yet seen the enclosure for real – this looks pretty unimaginative. A flat lawn with a few rather half-hearted climbing structures popping up in the middle, with the visitors viewing through thick mesh fence. It's not exactly going to thrust zoo design forward into the next generation is it? I'm sure that in many ways this is a step forward, and I certainly applaud the movement that Twycross is making in improving its various enclosures, but any cage that has this little attention paid to aesthetics is not going to be massively impressive. I'm not arguing that they should have spent a huge amount of money trying to replicate a slice of tropical Africa in the Leicestershire countryside, but they could at least have considered such things as what the visitor will actually see as they gaze into this enclosure: what I think they will see is fence, a not very good view of a monkey (if they are lucky), and then other visitors beyond.
I perfectly agree with this comment. Here is not a problem of langurs and/or guenons or of Twycross Zoo in particular. It seems that cages are out-fashion but the quality of new exhibits should deserve more criticism, from the education viewpoint and from the animal welfare perspective.
It seems that cages are out-fashion but the quality of new exhibits should deserve more criticism, from the education viewpoint and from the animal welfare perspective.
I would hold up the new Primate enclosures at Howletts and Port Lympne as examples for what these sort of open enclosures should be like. Unfortunately there are only three of them between the two Parks, and many primates still live in the old fashioned mesh and wooden constructions, but they do still have plenty of climbing space..
That's pretty much the whole group as they have 1.2 (from Howletts/Port Lympne)+ a baby (if its still there) I hope they will allow them to multiply in number here.
