Monkeys hang around home despite zoo damage

[Simon Hampel]

From abc.net.au: Monkeys hang around home despite zoo damage

Two monkeys have narrowly escaped injury at Rockhampton's zoo after their enclosure was destroyed in a storm.

Three trees, including a 100-year-old bunya pine in the city's botanic gardens were brought down at the height of the storm.

One of them crashed through the monkey cage.

Rockhampton City Council spokesman John Broad says two of the monkeys got out of the cage, but did not get too far.

"Lucky for us that they were very happy to see the zookeepers when they turned up, rather than go bush," he said.

"They could have been in shock, two of them did get out, but they just weren't game to go anywhere.

"They'll be out of sight for a while I dare say while they make a full recovery.

"There's no physical injuries whatsoever, but they should do okay."

 

[Nigel]

Rockhampton Zoo

has anyone been to this zoo ?
I guess it will be pretty small , but what animals do they actually have on display ? And what species of non Australian animals ?

 

[patrick]

chimps at rockhampton....

hmmm.
rockhampton city zoo. i have no idea exactly what animals are held at this zoo as i have never been there, but i do know that they have two male chimpanzees and i'm pretty sure i remember reading something about mareeba wanting to acquire some baboons from melbourne and rockhampton, so i'm pretty sure they have them too. other than that, who knows? the website has the heading "primate collection" and then goes into discussing their chimps (brothers) behaviours.

if they had other primates id'e have a guess and say they would be either macaques, capuchins or spider monkeys. all these are pretty common in private and small zoos.

oddly, another very small B-grade zoo in new zealand, willowbank wildlife reserve in christchurch, has a father/daughter pair of chimpanzees that are soon to be sent to mogo zoo to create a new chimp colony when the bullen's chimps arrive. this new group should prove very important because it will be made up almost entirely of wild-caught chimps that have never bred before. no doubt their offspring will be much sought after.

just another thing - willowbank claims to have a pair of "gibbons" but doesn't list what species they are. from the photos they look like siamangs but does anyone have anymore info on these animals?

 

[Nigel]

Gibbons at Willowbank

I have never been to this place -- it is outshone by Orana Park .
However , I have sent them an email asking what species they are .
Will let you know as soon as I get a response .