Spider Monkey enclosure - 1980

Having spent years on concrete, Bamboo poles, grass and some plants were put in the enclosure to make it look a little more natural. Stanley Edgar, the zoos artist, painted the back wall with a jungle motif. The dome at the front was painted red, the moat was filled with water and a black dye (Nigrasin) was added to the water.

December 1980

Why did they dye the water?

I think the reason was so it wouldn't look dirty. There was a sign up saying there was dye in the water, as sime people got the idea the water was filthy and needed changing. The dye was non toxic and did no harm to the monkeys when they drank it.