ideas for rhesus macaque enclosures

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jo
  • Start date Start date
Jo, have you seen the herb gardens within the Sulawesi enclosure at Perth Zoo? You could possibly create a similar garden OUTSIDE, immediately adjacent to your Rhesus castle as space is such an issue inside. The top of the garden is covered with mesh and the animals can only harvest the herbs when they grow high enough for them to reach.

By the way, does that castle have a stand off barrier around it to keep the public [and Ben!] back a bit? Hard to tell from the photo and my memory is hopeless.
 
BTW, one tip from German zoos. They usually subtly make enrichment stick out for visitors, e.g. put pool in the centre, so visitors think "wow, animals really have comfort there". ;)
 
Just to clarify i dont not like macaques, i will take them some treats next time i go to renmark. to get in their good sides,

Do macaques like Grapes with Barbitone injected into them?
 
All those who want me to shove Ben in with George and Mildred and lock the door say aye.
 
monkey castle....

eeek jo, that sure is an ugly castle. is it just cladding over mesh? if so, whilst i'm sure it offers some weather protection maybe you could open things up for them a bit? replace some walls with clear perspex maybe?

i say this because i'm sure some added views of the world would make a big difference to their lives. so long as you can be sure to keep them warm/sheltered at the same time.

i can see its small, i wouldn't bother in the slightest with trying to plant live plants in there. not only because they will probably kill them but because they will only take up valuable space.

i think the ideas here are all good though the consensus is just keep focused with items rather than modifications.


do you actually need to install a pond/pool? could they just do with a tub of water on hot days instead?

at the EPRC the gibbons loved their swings. they were large straw baskets hanging from the room slightly on their side so the gibbons had a backrest. they would sit and swing for hours and hours, but they are gibbons.

how do monkeys react to mirrors? do they like looking at themselves? rhesus have self awareness don't they?

other than that i don't think i'll come up with anything not already mentioned here. good luck tho...
 
Well everyone will be pleased to knwo George, Mildred and I are now freinds. I went up to Renmark on SUnday night and was at the Park on monday andtuesday, during that time (other than playing with capuchins) we Scatter fed the Macaques the inside area of the castle has been filled with straw and seed is thrown in for them to find. We also made 2 platforms for them to sit on in the outside area. one under the water (white pipe) and one higher up on the side closest in the photo, to answer patricks question about the cladding, its actually Concrete sprayed on a frame, so nothings moving anywhere!

They also have a peanut butter coated paint roller to get food off, will post a picture tomorrow.
 
Ben was a great help, we went through lots of options for place to place platforms and best ways to do it. Also helped me catch up on some capuchin jobs I had been trying to get done. He has a special capuchin friend now (the females can get very flirty!) and he has an understanding with George and Mildred like I do, they stop unnecessary hair pulling and we wait on them hand and foot.
 
Still have lots to do, but getting there.
 
Heres a picture of george with the Paint roller with peanut butter on it.

Enrichment doesnt have to cost heaps!

George3.jpg
 
The ideas that have been mentioned are great when you have a small number of rhesus - how about when you have a large troop of them? Anyone have any ideas for enrichment?
 
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