I'm with taun here - that 80% is a big claim and I can't accept it as truth unless you can back it up with something (in which case I shall humbly withdraw my objections to the statement!).
Trentham Monkey Forest Trentham Monkey Forest
- Thread starter CZJimmy
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I'm with taun here - that 80% is a big claim and I can't accept it as truth unless you can back it up with something (in which case I shall humbly withdraw my objections to the statement!).
Another correction, you did not state any facts you are not admitting to be true. I wouldn't say people are really getting fired up, although perhaps a little annoyed that you seem to have swallowed a PR manual and are unwilling to accept anything other than that is truth (despite those who are disputing what you say, like Maguari and Taun, being very knowledgeable on their subject).
In regard to free-roaming monkeys, I shall once again say that Longleat has a Rhesus Macaque enclosure which is in the tens of acres (not sure of the exact size) and must qualify it by your definition (or, I suspect, that of Trentham's guide-book) as free-ranging.
Like with others, however, I will happily be proved wrong if you can come up with some reputable sources.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
As for the Gibraltor Macaques not been an accurate representation,that may very well be true but from personnal experience i can tell you they are the best pick pocket unit of any species that I`ve seen,but that apart they all still live in small family units but they do still form up to create large troops with other family groups when the need arises.
I thought this was a friendly forum to discuss Zoo subjects, not a competition to see who knows the most, who has the most experience or who is knowledgable on their subject.
I gave my opinion on Monkey Forest and it is valid, it is a subjective opinion, how I see Monkey Forest from several visits and from the scientific papers. To say I am unwilling to accept your opinions is untrue, and even though Taun and Maguari are 'very knowledgable on their subject' my such experience, skills and knowledge should not be dismissed either.
I do not care if you visit Monkey Forest or not, it makes no difference to me, however I thought I was able to put across what I thought in the same manner as everyone else.
I will not be continuing the discussion as it will cause bad feeling and will not get us anywhere, I stand by my comments that Monkey Forest is a good animal collection and me, my fammily and friends will continue to visit.
I gave my opinion on Monkey Forest and it is valid, it is a subjective opinion, how I see Monkey Forest from several visits and from the scientific papers. To say I am unwilling to accept your opinions is untrue, and even though Taun and Maguari are 'very knowledgable on their subject' my such experience, skills and knowledge should not be dismissed either.
I do not care if you visit Monkey Forest or not, it makes no difference to me, however I thought I was able to put across what I thought in the same manner as everyone else.
I will not be continuing the discussion as it will cause bad feeling and will not get us anywhere, I stand by my comments that Monkey Forest is a good animal collection and me, my fammily and friends will continue to visit.
It's certainly not my intention to get into a 'who knows the most competition', and I never suggested you weren't knowledgable. I simply see no evidence for the 80% figure, and when you make statements on a public forum your comments are open to debate and facts open to correction (I've been corrected myself on many an occasion!).
I cannot make any comment on the Monkey Forest as a place to visit as I have never been, so I also have no intention to criticise, except for my suspicion that it will not take half a day to do. I actually have a spare day next weekend and may head over there to take a look.
I cannot make any comment on the Monkey Forest as a place to visit as I have never been, so I also have no intention to criticise, except for my suspicion that it will not take half a day to do. I actually have a spare day next weekend and may head over there to take a look.
Hisao-ning
Active Member
iv have been here twice it good for a walk roung but then there are other time near by that you can do for the rest of the day like a little shopping town down the raod also a goape next door (it an asolt course up in the trees), but like some of you say there are zoo and wild life parks with primate walk thorughs e.g lumers, squirrel monkey marmoset and tamarins...... and not just primate eather they have other animal walk through as well.
i like them monkey forset but if i live miles away it wouldnt be somthing i would drive a long way for, it would be somthing you would do if your in the area or plan on going somwere eles after as you could not spend all day there....
it good for a walk roung but then there are other time near by that you can do for the rest of the day like a little shopping town down the raod also a goape next door (it an asolt course up in the trees), but like some of you say there are zoo and wild life parks with primate walk thorughs e.g lumers, squirrel monkey marmoset and tamarins...... and not just primate eather they have other animal walk through as well.i like them monkey forset but if i live miles away it wouldnt be somthing i would drive a long way for, it would be somthing you would do if your in the area or plan on going somwere eles after as you could not spend all day there....
daystar12uk
Member
Your enjoyment of Monkey Forest really depends on your reason for visiting, if all you want is a nice day out then it might not be for you. If you combine it with a trip to the Trentham Estate and the shopping village it should make a full day out and is highly enjoyable.
If you are interested in taking photographs and observing animal behaviour and getting some education along the way then it's a great day out. We have been several times, arriving at opening time and leaving at about 4pm, and yes we spend all our time in the forest. There is a lot of other wildlife in there and it's fascinating watching the squirrels interacting with the macaques.
If you are interested in taking photographs and observing animal behaviour and getting some education along the way then it's a great day out. We have been several times, arriving at opening time and leaving at about 4pm, and yes we spend all our time in the forest. There is a lot of other wildlife in there and it's fascinating watching the squirrels interacting with the macaques.
There is a consultation' document which is in process at the moment, which updates the Secretary of States Standards of Modern Zoo Practice which provides standards to go alongside the Zoo Licencing Act. It is VERY long and VERY detailed. The deadline for 'comments' has just been extended from the end of May until 21st June. Included is an updated list of Category 1 and Category 2 dangerous animals, which has also been mentioned in the London Zoo thread. All Old World monkeys with one exception (macaques included, a species of which is what Trentham keep) are included in Category 1 - which has the requirement (amongst many others) that no public access is permitted. So clearly Trentham will have to close its walk-throughs, which so far as I know cover the whole zoo.
Really hope Trentham is given an exception as otherwise this is awful news going very much against the welfare of the macaques at the park. Trentham would be forced to either a) close or b) enclose the macaques in fenced off enclosures (removing the appeal of the site and probably resulting in bankruptcy)
If the park closes then that is around 150 essentially ‘wild’ macaques in three social groups needing rehoming. It would also mean the loss of one of the biggest sources of research into Barbary macaque behaviour and ecology..
Apenheul presumably still has medium sized primates in walkthroughs?
Presumably (?), along with other such parks on the mainland of Europe, but of course none of these are licenced by the UK ZLA supported by the SSSMZP, except (presumably) the zoo on Gibraltar - where it will be illegal to have public contact with the macaques inside the zoo, but not of course outside it on the Rock.
There is no provision for such an exemption in the 'consultation' document.
In other areas the licencing authority has the power to alter the requirements, such as the need for over-hangs on open 'dangerous' carnivore paddocks; but NOT on public contact.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Visited the monkey forest for the first time today and enjoyed it a lot. I didn't intend to spend all day (I went to Tropical Birdland for my first visit there on the way back) so had half the day wandering around and sitting on the benches watching the macaques. There were quite a few visitors, though they mainly appeared to congregate in one place near the entrance even though there were loads of monkeys in other places. Half way around the path is steep and a lot less accessible and perhaps people knew this and didn't bother going there. I do like monkeys (there's handy) and so enjoyed watching and photographing them in slow time.
I liked the general layout and the overall feel of the space. The wooded areas are lovely. There was a good amount of other wildlife around (including some huge rats, no doubt attracted by the frequent ground feeding and boldly striding about in the open). There have been nine recent births and it was fun to see the babies and growing youngsters.There was a lot of playing and tree leaping among the adults too.
As a collection, clearly it's just one sort of monkey wandering around in numbers in a whacking great wood, but actually I found it rather charming and it ticks the box if you like a walkthrough. I did worry there would be some sort of haste to move on etc and it would feel like a safari park on foot with crowds everywhere, but seemingly no one minded what you did as long as you didn't pet the monkeys. The volunteers were kept pretty busy directing human traffic as the monkeys crossed the paths etc but on the whole the visitors were pretty well behaved.
I can't see it being on my visit every month list but I'd go again for fun and I think as a novel way of keeping macaques and being able to see them as a guest in their space it was well worth the trip and the cost.
I liked the general layout and the overall feel of the space. The wooded areas are lovely. There was a good amount of other wildlife around (including some huge rats, no doubt attracted by the frequent ground feeding and boldly striding about in the open). There have been nine recent births and it was fun to see the babies and growing youngsters.There was a lot of playing and tree leaping among the adults too.
As a collection, clearly it's just one sort of monkey wandering around in numbers in a whacking great wood, but actually I found it rather charming and it ticks the box if you like a walkthrough. I did worry there would be some sort of haste to move on etc and it would feel like a safari park on foot with crowds everywhere, but seemingly no one minded what you did as long as you didn't pet the monkeys. The volunteers were kept pretty busy directing human traffic as the monkeys crossed the paths etc but on the whole the visitors were pretty well behaved.
I can't see it being on my visit every month list but I'd go again for fun and I think as a novel way of keeping macaques and being able to see them as a guest in their space it was well worth the trip and the cost.
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
Trentham monkey forest has announced the birth of two Barbary Macaques. They are expected more births in the coming weeks/months. There 140 Macaques in a 60 acre enclosure