Best UK Howler Monkey enclosure

[felis silvestris]

his is just a bit of fun to judge the general consensus on the best enclosure for Howler Monkeys in the UK. I have added a few photos from the gallery to make it easier for members to compare the different exhibits. If anyone wants to make an argument for a particular enclosure, please feel free to do so. Also, I would encourage people to list the enclosures in order of what they think is best.

If you want to vote for Exmoor, Amazon World, Hamerton or Manor WP please vote for the "Other" option in the poll.

Banham (Black)

Blackpool (Black)

Exmoor (Black)

Unfortunately there are no photos of this enclosure in the gallery. If someone could describe or provide a photo of the exhibit, that would be great.

South Lakes (Black)

Dudley (Black)

Hamerton (Black)

Unfortunately there are no photos of this enclosure in the gallery. If someone could describe or provide a photo of the exhibit, that would be great.

Port Lympne (Black)

Amazon World (Black)

Unfortunately there are no photos of this enclosure in the gallery. If someone could describe or provide a photo of the exhibit, that would be great.

Paignton (Black)

Manor WP (Black)

Unfortunately there are no photos of this enclosure in the gallery. If someone could describe or provide a photo of the exhibit, that would be great.

Jersey (Black)

Twycross (Black)

Wingham (Black)

YWP (Red)

Photo credits to @MagpieGoose @Bonobob @JerseyLottie @gulogulogulo @Benosaurus @Jordan-Jaguar97 @

 

[Kalaw]

Exmoor's is a simple cage-like structure that offers ample climbing, but little in terms of space, and the onshow indoor area in particular feels a little small. It is very similar to the nearby White-faced Saki and Golden-cheeked Gibbon enclosures, of which there are photos in the gallery, but is half the size due to it lacking the overhead tunnel. I will always have a soft spot for it, as it was where I first ever heard the namesake call of howler monkeys, but it doesn't come close to being the best enclosure here.

Rather, I would give that title to Paignton. An enormous island, covered with mature trees that may be one of the most natural and convincing exhibits in the UK, as well as one of the best for the inhabitants, with the sheer amount of height and space that is offered by the abundance of trees being quite astonishing. YWP and Blackpool also look great from photos, as does Jersey (am I right in thinking which that is also a Spectacled Bear enclosure)

 

[TNT]

Banham takes the win for me. If Paignton had a contained outdoor area like Banham for periods of high wind or ice (the lake), I probably would have given it the win. Blackpool's is also very good.

They share it with Pileated Gibbons, which is questionable in terms of geographical accuracy, but quite good in guaranteeing that some primates are active and visible.

They don't share - both have separate islands

 

[Lafone]

I've seen a few of these and have generally liked what I have seen.

Twycross seems a little shut in in comparison to the others and the glass viewing has always been rather dirty / wet when I have visited - though might just be weather related. Hamerton is the smaller of the group but it is a good space for privacy.

YWP is a varied space with great viewing and frames between the trees as well as ropes over a pond (which the howlers like to hang off and grab the grass and weeds growing in the water). The howlers seem to enjoy all the space and spending time in their trees. Dudley's space has a couple of areas where the howlers can spend time (and they do make use of all of it) but like Twycross it lacks a bit of high climbing space and feels less 'natural'. Of course enrichment and happy primates isn't all about natural trees but the variety of climbing, gripping and swinging on natural trees takes it for me as well as, frankly, being nicer to look at.

I haven't seen Blackpool or Paignton but both look interesting and well furnished.

Banham takes the win for me overall. Along with decent indoor space and an outside enclosure (for poorer weather or by choice), the facility for the howlers to move between the tall trees on their rope ladders, high above the path, directly above the visitors, with no barriers in the way offers a special zoo moment in my view. They are stopped from descending down the trees by a small climbing barrier, but otherwise they are not contained and it's an innovative idea and execution. Hearing the howlers all around the zoo and then seeing them on the trees above you is excellent and they make the most of all of the space. On my very first visit to Banham, the howlers booming calls and their scampering between the trees directly overhead was a real wow moment.

 

[Keelan]

I have chosen blackpool. Really nice sized enclosure and really well furnished. I always see the howlers on every visit and it is the only place I have actually heard them vocalise.

 

[Pandaboi]

Twycross Zoos now live in a different enclosure. I haven’t got any images of the outdoor enclosure but the indoor area I have uploaded underneath. Twycross keep a single female, I expect this species will be a phase-out for Twycross. The zoo is also redeveloping the area she is in.

The outdoor enclosure is the same as most of them. Two meshed topped enclosure with a good amount of climbing for the howler. They have three indoor areas. Two on-show and one off-show which Is the bedroom playroom. Her enclosure is now boarded off altogether so you can’t see the howler anymore but I believe she still lives there.

Twycross had a rich history with howlers, hopefully this history can carry on. There used to be a male and a female in an enclosure which is the enclosure next door to the one you uploaded which is currently ongoing redevelopment. I will also add a image of the work going on in the enclosure.

 

[TriUK]

Jersey is good, but Paigntons exhibit is brilliant and none of the others come close.

 

[Alwaysevergreen]

I've not voted on this as for me your options are not correct. You've not included Manor Wildlife Park. Manor have adopted Banham's approach by having an indoor section, and outdoor aviary and then an arboreal section which allows them to climb around trees. The tree section is roughly 3/4 x the size of Banhams and it looks great. Sadly, the group they have are from Bristol and with that they have rarely ventured out of their aviary as they aren't use to the areas given.

Also, the images above, that is not the Howler Monkey section at South Lakes, those images are of the Gibbon enclosures. The Howler Monkeys share the outdoor exhibit with the Andean Bears and have lots of trees and a decent indoors. I would say that the actual Howler Monkey exhibit at South Lakes is very good as they have a nice amount of trees to go in, and the indoors is off show giving them privacy. Also a mix with Andean Bear is one I've not really seen before.

In my opinion, for a real life exhibit, as to what you would see in the wild, South Lakes is the best and it's the most naturalistic. The images above are of the Gibbon enclosures, NOT the Howler Monkeys.

However, if you've voted Banham, you should have voted other for Manor House Wildlife Park. Manor's set up is the same as Banhams with a house, and outdoor aviary, before again allowing the monkeys to climb in the trees above people, on the lawn near the house, opposite the Red Panda's and is everything Banhams is, but 3-4 times bigger.

These polls are great, but maybe it would be an idea to have a thread asking for current exhibit photos and current holders before starting a poll? As this is the second time within the last few polls that a list has been created, where some pictures are inaccurate, collections are missed and therefore this can lead to misleading results. I get this is a bit of fun, but if we're voting on zoos and their exhibits, the lists should at least be accurate.

 

[Lafone]

I've not voted on this as for me your options are not correct. You've not included Manor Wildlife Park. Manor have adopted Banham's approach by having an indoor section, and outdoor aviary and then an arboreal section which allows them to climb around trees. The tree section is roughly 3/4 x the size of Banhams and it looks great. Sadly, the group they have are from Bristol and with that they have rarely ventured out of their aviary as they aren't use to the areas given.

Also, the images above, that is not the Howler Monkey section at South Lakes, those images are of the Gibbon enclosures. The Howler Monkeys share the outdoor exhibit with the Andean Bears and have lots of trees and a decent indoors. I would say that the actual Howler Monkey exhibit at South Lakes is very good as they have a nice amount of trees to go in, and the indoors is off show giving them privacy. Also a mix with Andean Bear is one I've not really seen before.

In my opinion, for a real life exhibit, as to what you would see in the wild, South Lakes is the best and it's the most naturalistic. The images above are of the Gibbon enclosures, NOT the Howler Monkeys.

However, if you've voted Banham, you should have voted other for Manor House Wildlife Park. Manor's set up is the same as Banhams with a house, and outdoor aviary, before again allowing the monkeys to climb in the trees above people, on the lawn near the house, opposite the Red Panda's and is everything Banhams is, but 3-4 times bigger.

These polls are great, but maybe it would be an idea to have a thread asking for current exhibit photos and current holders before starting a poll? As this is the second time within the last few polls that a list has been created, where some pictures are inaccurate, collections are missed and therefore this can lead to misleading results. I get this is a bit of fun, but if we're voting on zoos and their exhibits, the lists should at least be accurate.

I think all exhibits should be on the list but I wouldn’t change the vote I made for Banham as I don’t vote for exhibits I haven’t seen myself. There’s a few of these polls I haven’t voted on as I haven’t seen a sufficient number to pass judgement or in some cases seen the options offered. I get some people can judge based on pictures and others will have seen everything on the lists. It’s personal opinion however what to vote for and how.

The poll does include Manor as ‘other’.

“If you want to vote for Exmoor, Amazon World, Hamerton or Manor WP please vote for the "Other" option in the poll.”

 

[Alwaysevergreen]

I think all exhibits should be on the list but I wouldn’t change the vote I made for Banham as I don’t vote for exhibits I haven’t seen myself. There’s a few of these polls I haven’t voted on as I haven’t seen a sufficient number to pass judgement or in some cases seen the options offered. I get some people can judge based on pictures and others will have seen everything on the lists. It’s personal opinion however what to vote for and how.

The poll does include Manor as ‘other’.

“If you want to vote for Exmoor, Amazon World, Hamerton or Manor WP please vote for the "Other" option in the poll.”

Granted, but without images or descriptions, people can't make reasoned decisions. If someone posts an inaccurate image of an exhibit, it can affect results, and most people will see the options and not maybe notice other until after voted. Just my opinion, that's all. I don't get why Manor should be under Other, when it is one of the better exhibits in the UK?

 

[felis silvestris]

I try to use the most up-to-date photos in these polls, and often if the exhibit doesn’t have photos it goes in the “Other” category. I haven’t seen many of these exhibits so I don’t know what they are like.

 

[Gibbonsagainstgravity]

Really like the idea this kind of thread. For me Paignton wins because of its size, climbing equipment, and of course because of the fact that it is literally a Jungle.

I do like Jersey’s size and creative species mix.

 

[felis silvestris]

Poll closed. Congratulations to Paignton for having the Best UK Howler Monkey enclosure. The dense island gives the monkeys an amazing exhibit, just like the gibbons, and places them far in first ahead of runners up Jersey and Banham. This is their fourth win so far. @Alwaysevergreen I'm guessing you voted for Manor WP?

Paignton: 47.2%
Jersey: 16.7%
Banham: 13.9%
Blackpool: 8.3%
YWP: 8.3%
South Lakes: 2.8%
Manor WP: 2.8%

 

[Alwaysevergreen]

Poll closed. Congratulations to Paignton for having the Best UK Howler Monkey enclosure. The dense island gives the monkeys an amazing exhibit, just like the gibbons, and places them far in first ahead of runners up Jersey and Banham. This is their fourth win so far. @Alwaysevergreen I'm guessing you voted for Manor WP?

Paignton: 47.2%
Jersey: 16.7%
Banham: 13.9%
Blackpool: 8.3%
YWP: 8.3%
South Lakes: 2.8%
Manor WP: 2.8%

I did.