Tamarin and Marmoset Exhibit

[eduardo_Brazil]

Dear Friends,

A long time is over since my last post, we are planning to build new exhibits for our famly of Golden Headed Lion Tamarin composed of 3/1 and for our pair of Geoffroyi Marmoset. Currently they are housed in a enclosure of 4 x 4 x 3, for each family, glass fronted, but observing the animals they are not so happy with this enclosure. The enclosures are well planted with Brazilian trees. For our new exhibit I would like to have suggestions from you that are closer to the best zoos of the world. We was thinking about a island and mixing the 2 groups? But in the past we mixed the 2 groups in 3x 3 x 3 cage and agression happened during the estrus of he females. A wire enclosure?

I hoppe you can give suggstion to us.

Thanks a lot.

 

[CZJimmy]

As a zoo-visitor, are you sure that an island would be a good idea?

Because the two types of monkeys that you are exhibiting are quite small, having a moat seperating them would make them quite difficult to spot for the public. There is also the added risk of the primates drowning (especially smaller primates which might not be able to swim back onto the island).

Pehaps put camoflage netting over some sections of a glass window to give the monkeys privacy?

Most marmoset/tamarin enclosures that i've seen have been sections of forested areas (Jersey, Chester to an extent) or in an aviary style cage.

 

[zooman]

I would suggest that the first option would have to be free roaming. This is obviously cretaes the best option for the visitor and usually the animal.

Apenheul exhibits would be worth looking at in the photo gallery here. Also Brookfield,DC and many others.

This would be cost effective allowing you to seperate them. I am aware that free roaming exhibits are challenging and not always suitable for individual animal personalities. Surely it is worth trying!

I think animal collections started with pits, moved to cages followed by Islands. Now there is the option for the approriate animals of walk through and free roaming exhibits.