Monkey World
Encyclopedia
Monkey World is a 65 acres (26.3 ha) ape
and monkey
sanctuary
and rescue centre near Wool
, Dorset
, England
. Set up in 1987 by the late Jim Cronin
, and later operated by both him and his wife Alison, it was originally intended to provide a home for abused chimpanzees used as props by Spanish beach photographers, but is now home to many different species of primates.
Monkey World works with foreign governments to stop the illegal smuggling of wild primates.
The facility made the news in January 2008 with what The Guardian called "the world's biggest rescue mission of its kind," when it saved 88 capuchin monkey
s from a laboratory in Santiago, Chile, where some of the animals had been kept in solitary cages for up to 20 years. The operation was carried out at the request of the laboratory, and with help from the Chilean Air Force
, who flew the animals to Bournemouth
airport with special permission from the British government.
In August 2010 Monkey World rescued a Bornean Orang-utan
called Oshine from Johannesburg
, South Africa
.
On December 7, 2010 Monkey World rescued an orphan baby Sumatran Orang-utan
called Silvestre from a zoo in Spain. In January 2011, Monkey World rescued a chimpanzee named Kiki from Lebanon
.
leased a legislation which banned the use of chimpanzee
s as props by photographers on beaches or any other resort. The photographers would acquire the chimpanzees from the wild after they were smuggled from their natural families(who would most certainly have to be killed in order to capture the babies) and shipped aboard into Spain where they were sold on the black market to be purchased by beach photographers. The chimpanzees would be dressed in human clothing and accessories, beaten to stay sedate, have most of their teeth knocked out to prevent them biting the tourists they were forced to pose for photographs with and drugged with valium or any other 'calming drugs' to keep the animals under control. Eventually when the chimpanzees reached 6 or 7 years old they grow to become too immensely strong and dangerous and due to their increasing wild behaviour and uncontrollable antics they would be killed and replaced by another smuggled baby chimpanzee. Fortunately the Spanish government reinforced the law which protected chimpanzees and a British couple called Simon and Peggy Templer started a rescue for confiscated chimpanzees. Eventually in 1986 Jim Cronin approached the Templers and discussed on how to create a safe heaven for these mistreated animals and that was when 'Monkey World-Ape Rescue Centre' was hatched, at first as Jim's ambition which progressed to reality.
Jim Cronin leased a 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) land which was a derelict pig farm prior to Monkey World. He got permission to build his first enclosures and on 13/07/87 brought the first group of 8 beach chimpanzees from the Templers and housed a group of barbary macaques with one hand-reared bornean orangu-utan brought by Jeremy Keeling, who helped Jim to build and construct the sanctuary. More rescues increased the number of primates residing at Monkey World which has now become the largest primate rescue in the world. Monkey World works with foreign governments to stop the illegal smuggling of primates from the wild.
CHIMPANZEES
In August 2010 a new orang-utan called Oshine arrived at the park with a serous physical condition of being overweight. Although adult, she lives in the nursery group until her condition improves and she is ready to move into an adult group. Since A-Mei left to join Gordon's group, Oshine is now the only adult female in the nursery orangutan group.
GIBBONS
There are currently five groups of different Gibbon sub-species at the park.
Siamang Gibbons
Currently there are two Siamang gibbons at Monkey World. These are Sam and his offspring, Onion, who was born in 2000. Mother Sage died in April 2009 due to a bowel obstruction. Onion died in May 2011 from stomach cancer
Golden-Cheeked Gibbonss
This group of primates is part of the European Breeding Programme for Endangered Species(EEP), therefore breeding is encouraged to safe guard the survival of the species. So far there are 10 of these gibbons in the park. They are named:
Mueller Gibbons
These species of gibbon are quite rare in zoos but there are currently 4 of them in the park:
Agile
There are three Lar gibbons and one Agile gibbon living at the park. The Agile Gibbon Paul lives with Kitty, a Lar gibbon, whilst the other Lar gibbons, Ella and Nike, live in another enclosure.
MONKEYS
In October 2010, Oberon, the only goeldi's monkey, died. With his death means that his species does not exist at the park any longer.
Monkey World comprises over 230 primates and apart from the Apes, there is a collection of monkeys and prosimian species living at the park.
Levar's group consists of Levar(the dominant male), Piquita (the dominant female),Branco, Ayla, Kuna, Diego and Julio.
Bueno's group consists of Bueno(the dominant male), Yarima(the dominant female), Enzo and Paulo. On November 13, 2010, the last female woolly monkey in the USA arrived from Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. Her name is Sara.
Oaska's group consists of Oaska(the dominant male), Lena(Levar's daughter and now the dominant female of this group)her son Milo born May 2011, Quapa and Xingu.
The lesser apes, (gibbons) have enclosures with trees and other apparatus for swinging and branchiating. These highly delicate apes require specific nutritional requirements and are all endangered in the wild. All the rescued gibbons came from either other zoos or the 'Pingtung Rescue Centre for Endangered Wild Animals'. The Primate Care staff place their feeding puzzles in the their indoor accommodation as well as refurbish their enclosures to enable these apes to move about much as they would in the wilds of Vietnam, Borneo and Sumatra.
Care of the Monkeys & Prosimian
The park is home to 152 smaller primate species, which make up the capuchin monkeys, common marmosets, stump-tailed macaques, woolly monkeys, cotton-top tamarins, goeldi's monkey, ring-tailed lemurs and squirrel monkeys. These delicate primates require intensive care to ensure that they live normal, healthy lives. A lot of consideration is put into designin their outdoor and indoor accommodation. The monkeys live in specious, leafy/vegetative-densed enclosures which replicate their natural, humid habitat. The enclosures are enriched with insects and fruits, hidden in puzzle feeders to enable the animals to work for their food and hence exhibit their nutural behaviour of hunting. Their indoor accommodation is carefully heated during cold weather, filled with objects of mental stimulation such as donated baskets and blankets to exhibit nesting behaviour. The Primate Care Staff train the monkeys to willingly walk into a travelling crate so that in the urgency of transportation to the vet clinic, the animals would not have to be sedated.
Within the centre there is a hospital and operating theatre where most of the medical examination and operations on the primates and monkeys are performed. There is a local vet and a specialist primate vet and the staff at Monkey World are recognized as experts in primate rehabilitation and health.
For the more active there is the woodland walk and the children's adventure play area. The café provides a wide range of hot and cold food, whilst the kiosks sell treats such as ice creams and cola. The well stocked gift shop is very popular, as is the viewing tower, from which you can see all over the park. Monkey World opens at 10am and closes at 5pm (6pm July and August). As of 2009, adult entrance tickets were £10.50 and children (3–15 years old) were £7.25 Family tickets (two adults and two children) cost £31.
All of the enclosures are viewable from level disability friendly paths. There is a section for disabled children in the play area and motorized scooters are available for use in the park free of charge. Guide dogs are permitted into the park. Monkey World attracts over half a million visitors a year.
and the Forestry Protection Department worked together to create a centre in South Vietnam
to save gibbons
and other primates from the pet trade, smuggling
, theme parks, restaurants and so on so that they can be released into the forests of the centre. They named it Dao Tien and it now looks after 33 gibbons
, 8 pygmy loris (7 in the wild and 1 in a semi-forested enclosure) and 4 black-shanked douc langurs. Here are their names:
GIBBONS STAYING AT THE CENTRE
GIBBONS BEING PREPARED FOR RELEASE
GIBBONS RELEASED INTO SEMI-WILD ENCLOSURES
All of the gibbons at Dao Tien are golden-cheeked gibbons apart from Tau who is a white-cheeked gibbon
PYGMY LORIS STAYING AT THE CENTRE
PYGMY LORIS BEING PREPARED FOR RELEASE
PYGMY LORIS RELEASED IN THE FORESTS OF DAO TIEN
PYGMY LORIS RELEASED IN THE FORESTS OF CAT TIEN
PYGMY LORIS IN SEMI-FORESTED ENCLOSURES
BLACK-SHANKED DOUC LANGURS
SILVERED LANGUR
, which has completed its 9th season and its successor Monkey Life
, going on its 5th season. Other awareness is made through general TV coverage across the world, which include:
His widow, Alison, and the staff at Monkey World have promised to continue the legacy of Monkey World: "Monkey World will carry on with Alison at the forefront. We will make sure it is Jim’s lasting legacy."
Ape
Apes are Old World anthropoid mammals, more specifically a clade of tailless catarrhine primates, belonging to the biological superfamily Hominoidea. The apes are native to Africa and South-east Asia, although in relatively recent times humans have spread all over the world...
and monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
and rescue centre near Wool
Wool, Dorset
Wool is a village in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. The village has a population of 4,118 , though the population has fluctuated over the past 15 years, due to the proximity of military institutions, reaching a high of 4,300 in 1992. The village lies at a historic bridging point on the...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Set up in 1987 by the late Jim Cronin
Jim Cronin
James "Jim" Michael Cronin MBE was the founder in 1987 of Monkey World in Dorset, England, a sanctuary for abused and neglected primates...
, and later operated by both him and his wife Alison, it was originally intended to provide a home for abused chimpanzees used as props by Spanish beach photographers, but is now home to many different species of primates.
Monkey World works with foreign governments to stop the illegal smuggling of wild primates.
The facility made the news in January 2008 with what The Guardian called "the world's biggest rescue mission of its kind," when it saved 88 capuchin monkey
Capuchin monkey
The capuchins are New World monkeys of the genus Cebus. The range of capuchin monkeys includes Central America and South America as far south as northern Argentina...
s from a laboratory in Santiago, Chile, where some of the animals had been kept in solitary cages for up to 20 years. The operation was carried out at the request of the laboratory, and with help from the Chilean Air Force
Chilean Air Force
The Chilean Air Force is the air force of Chile, a branch of the Chilean military.-History:The first step towards the current FACh was taken by Teniente Coronel Pedro Pablo Dartnell, when he founded the Servicio de Aviación Militar de Chile on December 20, 1910, being trained as a pilot in France...
, who flew the animals to Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
airport with special permission from the British government.
In August 2010 Monkey World rescued a Bornean Orang-utan
Bornean Orangutan
The Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, is a species of orangutan native to the island of Borneo. Together with the slightly smaller Sumatran orangutan, it belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia....
called Oshine from Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
On December 7, 2010 Monkey World rescued an orphan baby Sumatran Orang-utan
Sumatran Orangutan
The Sumatran orangutan is one of the two species of orangutans. Found only on the island of Sumatra, in Indonesia, it is rarer and smaller than the Bornean orangutan. The Sumatran orangutan grows to about tall and in males...
called Silvestre from a zoo in Spain. In January 2011, Monkey World rescued a chimpanzee named Kiki from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
Foundation
This thriving sanctuary was founded by Jim Cronin in 1987. He got inspired to build the sanctuary for which would home rescued primates, after SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
leased a legislation which banned the use of chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s as props by photographers on beaches or any other resort. The photographers would acquire the chimpanzees from the wild after they were smuggled from their natural families(who would most certainly have to be killed in order to capture the babies) and shipped aboard into Spain where they were sold on the black market to be purchased by beach photographers. The chimpanzees would be dressed in human clothing and accessories, beaten to stay sedate, have most of their teeth knocked out to prevent them biting the tourists they were forced to pose for photographs with and drugged with valium or any other 'calming drugs' to keep the animals under control. Eventually when the chimpanzees reached 6 or 7 years old they grow to become too immensely strong and dangerous and due to their increasing wild behaviour and uncontrollable antics they would be killed and replaced by another smuggled baby chimpanzee. Fortunately the Spanish government reinforced the law which protected chimpanzees and a British couple called Simon and Peggy Templer started a rescue for confiscated chimpanzees. Eventually in 1986 Jim Cronin approached the Templers and discussed on how to create a safe heaven for these mistreated animals and that was when 'Monkey World-Ape Rescue Centre' was hatched, at first as Jim's ambition which progressed to reality.
Jim Cronin leased a 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) land which was a derelict pig farm prior to Monkey World. He got permission to build his first enclosures and on 13/07/87 brought the first group of 8 beach chimpanzees from the Templers and housed a group of barbary macaques with one hand-reared bornean orangu-utan brought by Jeremy Keeling, who helped Jim to build and construct the sanctuary. More rescues increased the number of primates residing at Monkey World which has now become the largest primate rescue in the world. Monkey World works with foreign governments to stop the illegal smuggling of primates from the wild.
CHIMPANZEESChimpanzeeChimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
Chimpanzee Nursery
This group is the smallest chimpanzee group in the park and is home to 5, also affectionately known as Nursery Group. This group was set up as a nursery where young chimps grow up until old enough to join an adult group in the park. This group is home to Sally, the park's full-time foster mum who was rescued in 1993 from Spain where she lived as a photographer's prop. Sally has a lot of maternal instincts and has helped rear many chimps in Monkey World. Lulu arrived from Cyprus with one-arm after her other arm was bitten by her mother and became infected leading to amputation. Then was the arrival of newest babies, Ash(Cathy's daughter, born in Paddy's group in 2005) and Rodders(Jess's son, born in Hananya's group in 2005). Ash and Rodders are coming on leaps and bounds. The latest arrival to the chimp nursery is Bryan who arrived at Monkey World in 2006 from Mexico. Currently in this group are Sally, Ash, Bryan, Rodders and Lulu.Hananya's Group
This group of 19 is the second largest group of chimpanzees in the park. Hananya took over the group after former leader Rodney died after a heart attack. Rodney was the dominant male in this group and Hananya was his second in command. Hananya was an adolescent male by then and clearly had a lot of respect for his leader. This however began to change as Hananya grew in confidence and size and following a detereoration in respect for Rodney, Hananya and Rodney fought and most of the members chose to back up the younger and fitter Hananya and turned on Rodney. Rodney was badly hurt and despite treatment the shock was just too much for 39 year old Rodney and he died of a heart attack. New encrowned leader Hananya struggled with his new position, mainly because he found it hard to discipline the other chimps because he grew up with the majority of the group. But he began to get there and Hananya is receiving a lot more respect from his group and is proving to be able to live up to his role as Alpha male and his new second in command is Tikko, who supports Hananya when he needs to. Other members of this group include Simon, he was found tethered to a post before being rescued in Spain. Simon is a very astitute chimp, always thinking and calculating, he has be known as 'Acrobatic Simon' because of his tendencies of swinging in the ropes in the outside enclosure. In this group there are two main dominant females, Cherri and Peggy. Cherri is noticeably the most dominant of the two and does not take kindly to newcomers though she did show her softer side during the 'Ben and Pip Introductions'. Cherri has had two babies, Seamus who was born in 999 but had to be taken away from Cherri at birth, and Pip who was born in 2001 who also had to be hand-reared but died while under anaesthetic following a rouf and tumble with another chimp. Peggy is the other dominant female in the group and she gave birth to Ben in 2001 but rejected him. Both Cherri and Peggy were re-introduced to their offspring in 2008 when youngsters Ben and Pip who had graduated from the Nursery Group, joined Hananya's. Ben could not fully integrate and was moved to another group and Pip died after suffering a mad reaction to the anaesthetic. There have been many arrivals to this group over the years. Kuki and Zeynep both arrived from Turkey and are believed to be half-sisters, Eveline, Honey, Tutti and Johni who all came from the Nursery Group and Patricia from Fuerteventura. On January 16, 2011 was the arrival of a rescued female chimpanzee called Kiki, who lived as a pet in Lebanon. Kiki is settling in well and has already met several of her new family in this group. Currently in this group reside Alpha male Hananya, Arfur, Cherri, Eveline, Honey, Jess, Johni, Kiki, Kuki, Marjoline, Patricia, Peggy, Semach, Simon, Tikko, Trudy, Tutti, Valerie and Zeynep.Paddy's Group
This group of 20 is the largest group of chimpanzees in the park. Paddy is one of the original first chimpanzees who lived at Monkey World since 1987 after being rescued from a life as a beach photographer's prop in Spain. The majority of his group are ex-beach photographer chimps as well and some in this group were the eight chimps to first live at the park. Unlike the other chimp groups at the park, this group is the oldest and most stable, home to a number of dominant females and one such dominant female is Beth. Beth is also one of the first rescued chimps from Spain and is the dominant female in this group followed by Zoe, Susie, Bixa and Cindy, who are also dominant females. Paddy and his group ousted two members over the years, Paco and Jimmy. Paco was moved out of this group following a conflict with the alpha male's second in command, Jimmy. He was moved to the Bachelor group where he has settled in well. Jimmy was Paddy's no. 2 until things began to change when Paddy's group took a stand against him and ousted him from the group, Jimmy was also moved in the Bachelor Boys. Following Jimmy's departure, Busta has stepped up as Paddy's new right-hand man though still has his hands full controlling Gamba. Other members of this group include Gamba, who is the naughtiest and is affectionately known as 'Cheeky Gamba' because of his normally boisterous ways. Peppa is one of the more quiet members who stays in the fringes of the group. This group is most certainly widely known because of its successful births and the first birth in this group was that of Hebe. Hebe was born in 1999 to Olympia, a young low-ranking female. Olympia and her baby clearly bonded and Hebe stayed with her mother and extended family for the first 11 months of life. Unfortunately Olympia's milk dried up and Hebe had to be removed and hand-reared with Johni, another baby born to this group by Clin before she and Johni were old enough to be re-introduced to their family group. Hebe was immediately accepted but Johni was ousted and joined the Nursery Group before joining Hananya's group where she is slowly becoming a dominant female. In 2005 Olympia died of cancer. Cathy, one of the large females, gave birth to Ash in 2005 and although there were initial signs of Cathy looking after her baby were promising, the baby did not feed and Cathy started to roll Ash up in the wood wool and poke her, so Ash had to be taken away and hand-reared. The more successful births are that of Eddi and her little brother Bart. Eddi was born in 2001 to Susie, who took care of her brilliantly without any problems and six years later gave birth to another baby, Bart, who she is looking after well as she did with Eddi. Currently in this group reside Alpha male Paddy, Athena, Bart, Beth, Bixa, Busta, Cathy, Chatta, Cindy, Clin, Eddi, Gamba, Grisby, Hebe, Kay, Lola, Micky, Peppa, Susie and Zoe.Bachelor Group
This group of 15 is the third largest group of chimpanzees in the park. This group is the most unique because it is an all-male group of chimps that do not fit into any other groups in the park and have affectionately been known as the Bachelor Boys, and part of the reason they have this name is due to their rowdy behavior. Butch is the dominant male in this group and arrived at Monkey World in 1989 after being used as a photographer's prop. He arrived with Charlie, one of the most lovable characters in the whole park, and the two shared a long friendship. Charlie was one of the most badly abused chimps ever rescued and had many physical, medical and psychological scars from his previous life as a photographer's prop in Spain. He recovered slowly through rehabilitation but unfortunately Charlie's condition deteriorated in early 2009 and he died on February 8, 2009. There have been a couple of adjustments to this group and one was the arrival of Alberto, a chimp rescued in Spain. Alberto lived 16 years of his life as a beach-chimp and took a while to adjust to living with other chimps. Alberto died in 2005 after only a short time of at Monkey World. Then the arrival of Paco, from Paddy's group, who moved in with the boys after an unsettled conflict with another chimp and was accepted as another member of Bachelors. Jimmy, also from Paddy's group, was moved in with the 'hooligans' after he began to challenge Paddy's authority. Once he was moved in with Bachelors he met up with Paco, who he ousted while still living in Paddy's group. Paco has grown into quit a large male and has an impressive contrast. Other members include half-brothers Jestah and Buxom, a high-ranking pair of males who rule the group alongside Butch. Freddy, one of the more quiet members, suffered from piles which he received treatment for. Sammy, who has droopy ears, is one of the first chimps rescued from Spain 1987 and Pacito was rescued from a life living in a garden shed in Barcelona. Kyko was abused as a photographer's prop when he was forced to wear roller skates and Mojo and Rocky arrived at the same time from Spain as former beach-photographer's props.Çarli arrived from Turkey where he lived as a television film star. Another arrival was Seamus, who had left the Nursery Group and joined the Bachelor boys following a failed integration into Hananya's group and Ben, the latest arrival, also joined this group following a failed integration into Hananya's group. Currently in this group reside Alpha male Butch, Ben, Buxom, Çarli, Freddy, Gypsy, Jestah, Jimmy, Kyko, Mojo, Pacito, Paco, Rocky, Sammy and Seamus.Tuan's Group
This group contains the oldest male Tuan, and three females: Amy (the first orangutan in the park and Gordon's Mother), Lucky, and Ro-Ro (mother of Hsiao-Ning and Dinda). Amy gave birth to a baby girl in October 2008, but the baby died the next day for unknown reasons.Gordon's Group
This second group contains Gordon, Hsiao-Lan, and Hsiao-Quai her sons Kai and new baby Jin who she gave birth to on 12 November 2009. Jin means handsome in Chinese. In late 2010 Hsiao-Ning and A-Mei were moved out of the Orang-utan Nursery and moved into Gordon's group.Orang-utan Nursery
The Nursery Group currently lives in a specially designed enclosure for young orangutans. The current residents are: youngsters Dinda (daughter of Ro-Ro) Lingga and Joly from France and Russia, respectively and on 7 December 2010 an orphaned baby sumatran orang-utan called Silvestre arrived from a zoo in Spain where he was abandoned by his mother. He has joined the orang-utan nursery and is settling in well.In August 2010 a new orang-utan called Oshine arrived at the park with a serous physical condition of being overweight. Although adult, she lives in the nursery group until her condition improves and she is ready to move into an adult group. Since A-Mei left to join Gordon's group, Oshine is now the only adult female in the nursery orangutan group.
GIBBONSGibbonGibbons are apes in the family Hylobatidae . The family is divided into four genera based on their diploid chromosome number: Hylobates , Hoolock , Nomascus , and Symphalangus . The extinct Bunopithecus sericus is a gibbon or gibbon-like ape which, until recently, was thought to be closely related...
There are currently five groups of different Gibbon sub-species at the park.Siamang GibbonsSiamangThe siamang is a tailless, arboreal, black-furred gibbon native to the forests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. The largest of the lesser apes, the siamang can be twice the size of other gibbons, reaching 1 m in height, and weighing up to 14 kg...
Currently there are two Siamang gibbons at Monkey World. These are Sam and his offspring, Onion, who was born in 2000. Mother Sage died in April 2009 due to a bowel obstruction. Onion died in May 2011 from stomach cancerGolden-Cheeked GibbonssYellow-cheeked GibbonThe yellow-cheeked gibbon , also called the yellow-cheeked crested gibbon, the golden-cheeked crested gibbon or the buffed-cheeked gibbon, is a species of gibbon native to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia....
This group of primates is part of the European Breeding Programme for Endangered Species(EEP), therefore breeding is encouraged to safe guard the survival of the species. So far there are 10 of these gibbons in the park. They are named:
- Zoey and Jake and their daughter Kim born on 31 March 2008 Kim means "Golden" in Vietnamese. 1st sept 2010 saw the arrival of their new baby and first son, Zak.
- Peanut and Pung-Yo, their elder child, Tien and their second infant, a female named Tia Nang, which they welcomed on 18 February 2009. Peanut and Pung-Yo were the first pair to produce a child in the park (Tien).
- Alex and Mikado, the young male orphan
- Vietta and Tito are a pair bond and high hopes they will breed in the future
Mueller GibbonsMüller's Bornean GibbonMüller's Bornean gibbon , also known as the grey gibbon, is a primate in the Hylobatidae or gibbon family.Unlike other gibbon species, Müller's Bornean gibbon does not show sexual dimorphism in its fur coloration. Its fur is grey or brown colored with a ring of bright fur around its face. On the...
These species of gibbon are quite rare in zoos but there are currently 4 of them in the park:- Dalumie and Adidas (male and female)
- Fox & Nini (both male)
AgileAgile GibbonThe agile gibbon , also known as the black-handed gibbon, is an Old World primate in the Hylobatidae or gibbon family, a group also collectively referred to as the "lesser apes"...
and LarLar GibbonThe lar gibbon , also known as the white-handed gibbon, is a primate in the Hylobatidae or gibbon family. It is one of the better-known gibbons and is often seen in zoos.-Range:...
Gibbons
There are three Lar gibbons and one Agile gibbon living at the park. The Agile Gibbon Paul lives with Kitty, a Lar gibbon, whilst the other Lar gibbons, Ella and Nike, live in another enclosure.MONKEYSMonkeyA monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
, LEMURSLemurLemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits of some species...
& MACAQUESMacaqueThe macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
In October 2010, Oberon, the only goeldi's monkey, died. With his death means that his species does not exist at the park any longer.Monkey World comprises over 230 primates and apart from the Apes, there is a collection of monkeys and prosimian species living at the park.
- Ring-Tailed LemursRing-tailed LemurThe ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar...
and Ruffed LemurRuffed lemurThe ruffed lemurs of the genus Varecia are strepsirrhine primates and the largest extant lemurs within the family Lemuridae. Like all living lemurs, they are found only on the island of Madagascar...
- There are a total of 11 ring-tailed lemurs in the park, they reside in a walkthrough woodland enclosure known as 'Malagasy'. The males that live in the walkthrough woodland enclosure are Indiana, Cirrius, Himal, Douglas, Whitespot, Houdini, George and Rentin. There is a female called Fennel who joined the boys and there is a new female called Kaiyah. There is also a ruffed lemur called Blue who happily resides in Malagasy with the boys, Fennel & Kaiyah. - Stump-Tailed MacaquesStump-tailed MacaqueThe stump-tailed macaque , also called the bear macaque, is a species of macaque found in Southern Asia. In India, it is found in south of the Brahmaputra river, in northeastern part of the country.Its range in India extends from Assam and Meghalaya to eastern Aruanchal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur,...
- There are 11 of these primates at Monkey World and are affectionately called the "Ugly Monkeys". The 5 resident monkeys currently live in one group. These came from various research centres around the UK, named Sam, David, Phil, Jonathan and Paddy live in the original enclosure. In November 2010, 10 new macaques arrived from a lab in Edinburgh. There were 9 females and a male called Wilmot. Two days after the new macaques arrived, Wilmot died due to a heart attack. The 5 boys were introduced to the 9 females. and so far things are going smoothly. David, Fingers and Rachael (two of the females) died. The current individuals are Sam (taking over from Scott as the new dominant male), Phil, Jonathan, Paddy, Norine, Maureen, Cola, Charley (girl), Miriam, Sylvie and Kelly.
- Squirrel MonkeysSquirrel monkeyThe squirrel monkeys are the New World monkeys of the genus Saimiri. They are the only genus in the subfamily Saimirinae.Squirrel monkeys live in the tropical forests of Central and South America in the canopy layer. Most species have parapatric or allopatric ranges in the Amazon, while S...
- There are only 5 of these small primates in the park, one of which came from a German laboratory, with the other two rescued in March 2008 from the UK pet trade. Another female was rescued May 2009. Their names are Alien, Topsy, Turvey and Samantha. A new squirrel monkey male arrived in 2010 called Fidget.
- Woolly MonkeysWoolly monkeyThe woolly monkeys are the genus Lagothrix of New World monkeys, usually placed in the family Atelidae.There are four species of woolly monkey. All originate from the rainforests of South America...
- There are 17 of these rare monkeys at Monkey World, including several babies that have been hand-reared by primate care staff and others who are being cared for by their mothers. In November 2010, Xusy, the oldest woolly monkey in the world at 38 years old, dies. In April 2010, two elderly woolly monkeys, Oaska (male) and Quapa (female), were moved from Basel Zoo in Iceland to Monkey World. They have now formed a third group with Lena (born in Levar's group) and Xingu (born in Bueno's group) who moved out of Bueno's group. Oaska is a sub-species of woolly monkey known as the silvery woolly monkeySilvery Woolly MonkeyThe silvery woolly monkey , also known as Poeppig's woolly monkey, is a woolly monkey species from South America. Named after the German zoologist Eduard Friedrich Poeppig, it is found in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru....
(Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii)
Levar's group consists of Levar(the dominant male), Piquita (the dominant female),Branco, Ayla, Kuna, Diego and Julio.
Bueno's group consists of Bueno(the dominant male), Yarima(the dominant female), Enzo and Paulo. On November 13, 2010, the last female woolly monkey in the USA arrived from Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. Her name is Sara.
Oaska's group consists of Oaska(the dominant male), Lena(Levar's daughter and now the dominant female of this group)her son Milo born May 2011, Quapa and Xingu.
- Capuchin MonkeyCapuchin monkeyThe capuchins are New World monkeys of the genus Cebus. The range of capuchin monkeys includes Central America and South America as far south as northern Argentina...
s - 78 capuchins reside in Monkey World. The two originals are Terri and Gismo. In January 2008, 88 new capuchins arrived from Chile and have all been given names; these new arrivals are currently living in the new capuchin lodge and at the ex stump tail/woolly monkey house. A further 2 were rescued from the British pet trade at the same time. Tom died in July 2008. Several females have died since. In the summer of 2009, TJ died. In autumn 2009, two female capuchins were rescued from Spain. Their names are Babe and Amy II as there was already am Amy in the park.
- Common MarmosetCommon MarmosetThe common marmoset is a New World monkey. It originally lived on the Northeastern coast of Brazil, in the states of Piaui, Paraiba, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Bahia...
s - There are currently 11 marmosets in the park. There's one family (Harry the mum, Louis the dad and their children, Henry, Hazel and Lionel), another family (Lenny, Gabi and their adopted son, Solomon) and two pairs (Betty-Boo and Max and Kayla and Nathan). - Cottontop Tamarins - There are 2 of these at the park. Their names are Uncas and Alice. They arrived in March 2009 from Kent. They share the squirrel monkeys' enclosure.
Primate Care
Monkey World covers 65 acre (26.3 ha) of park and within this enormous sanctuary are over 208 individual apes and monkeys which make up the primates living in it. To ensure that all the primates receive their day-to-day care is a dedicated team of people working and caring for them known as the Primate Care Staff. These people have hands-on experience in caring for wild animals and are effectively trained to know how to not only feed the animals but to rehabilitate them to give them a better life. The care of each primate depends on the species and its specific diet and life requirements.Care of the apes
The park is home to 71 apes, which make up the chimps, orang-utans and all the species of gibbon(lesser apes). These large, powerful primates require a lot of stimulation in order to ensure their mental and physical well being. The enclosures cover around 2 acre (0.809372 ha), containing lash grass, shrubs to add a more natural setting, and man-made structures. These structures include the climbing apparatus/frames, which are made up of telephone poles of wood which are strong enough to withstand the strength of the apes and also provide a setting which enables them to swing and jump, movements which they would exhibit in their natural environment. The outside enclosures have viewing towers for the observation of the animals. The outside enclosures are connected to indoor accommodations/complex, known as the pavilions. These indoor sleeping quarters and playrooms comprise hammocks, wood-wool and are heated to keep the animals warm during cold months. During cold winter months the Primate Care staff spray oil over the hands and feet of the apes in order to keep the supple and stop them cracking as well as provide extra enrichments such as donated blankets for the apes to play and amuse themselves with. In order to get close to the apes for medical check-ups, the Primate Care Staff employ a training known as 'operant conditioning' which will allow the keepers to train the animals to present certain parts of their body for medical checkups without the keepers having to put themselves at risk by getting close to the immensely powerful, potentially dangerous animals but at the same time build strong bonds with them. The indoor pavilions have a viewing window for the public to watch the apes inside as well as seeing them in their outside enclosure. The outside enclosures get refurbished regularly by improving the climbing apparatus, replacing them with new and interesting climbing frames and the indoor areas get polished and more wood-wool and replacement or addition of hammocks are put into their accommodation. As a form of mental stimulation, the apes are given feeding puzzles such as dog toys, kongs and puzzle feeders to enable the apes to work for their food and put their intelligence to its full potential.The lesser apes, (gibbons) have enclosures with trees and other apparatus for swinging and branchiating. These highly delicate apes require specific nutritional requirements and are all endangered in the wild. All the rescued gibbons came from either other zoos or the 'Pingtung Rescue Centre for Endangered Wild Animals'. The Primate Care staff place their feeding puzzles in the their indoor accommodation as well as refurbish their enclosures to enable these apes to move about much as they would in the wilds of Vietnam, Borneo and Sumatra.
Care of the Monkeys & ProsimianProsimianProsimians are a grouping of mammals defined as being primates, but not monkeys or apes. They include, among others, lemurs, bushbabies, and tarsiers. They are considered to have characteristics that are more primitive than those of monkeys and apes. Prosimians are the only primates native to...
s
The park is home to 152 smaller primate species, which make up the capuchin monkeys, common marmosets, stump-tailed macaques, woolly monkeys, cotton-top tamarins, goeldi's monkey, ring-tailed lemurs and squirrel monkeys. These delicate primates require intensive care to ensure that they live normal, healthy lives. A lot of consideration is put into designin their outdoor and indoor accommodation. The monkeys live in specious, leafy/vegetative-densed enclosures which replicate their natural, humid habitat. The enclosures are enriched with insects and fruits, hidden in puzzle feeders to enable the animals to work for their food and hence exhibit their nutural behaviour of hunting. Their indoor accommodation is carefully heated during cold weather, filled with objects of mental stimulation such as donated baskets and blankets to exhibit nesting behaviour. The Primate Care Staff train the monkeys to willingly walk into a travelling crate so that in the urgency of transportation to the vet clinic, the animals would not have to be sedated.Present times
At Monkey World, chimps are rehabilitated into large social groups, much as they would exist in the wild. The females are generally kept on birth control because the centre is still actively rescuing chimps, so space and funding is limited. Monkey World also works in Asia with the "Pingtung Rescue Center for Endangered Wild Animals" to try to stop the smuggling of gibbons and orangutans from the wild for use as pets. They also conduct undercover surveys of the illegal pet trade in South East Asia.Within the centre there is a hospital and operating theatre where most of the medical examination and operations on the primates and monkeys are performed. There is a local vet and a specialist primate vet and the staff at Monkey World are recognized as experts in primate rehabilitation and health.
For the more active there is the woodland walk and the children's adventure play area. The café provides a wide range of hot and cold food, whilst the kiosks sell treats such as ice creams and cola. The well stocked gift shop is very popular, as is the viewing tower, from which you can see all over the park. Monkey World opens at 10am and closes at 5pm (6pm July and August). As of 2009, adult entrance tickets were £10.50 and children (3–15 years old) were £7.25 Family tickets (two adults and two children) cost £31.
All of the enclosures are viewable from level disability friendly paths. There is a section for disabled children in the play area and motorized scooters are available for use in the park free of charge. Guide dogs are permitted into the park. Monkey World attracts over half a million visitors a year.
Dao Tien Rescue Centre
In 2008, Monkey World, Pingtung Rescue Centre, Cat Tien National ParkCat Tien National Park
Cát Tiên National Park is an important national park located in the south of Vietnam, approximately 150 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. It has an area of about 720 km² and protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests left in Vietnam.-History:Cát Tiên national park was...
and the Forestry Protection Department worked together to create a centre in South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
to save gibbons
Gibbons
Notable people named Gibbons include:* Alan Gibbons, a British author* Beth Gibbons , a British singer* Billy Gibbons, a guitarist for ZZ Top* Carroll Gibbons , an American-born British bandleader...
and other primates from the pet trade, smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
, theme parks, restaurants and so on so that they can be released into the forests of the centre. They named it Dao Tien and it now looks after 33 gibbons
Gibbons
Notable people named Gibbons include:* Alan Gibbons, a British author* Beth Gibbons , a British singer* Billy Gibbons, a guitarist for ZZ Top* Carroll Gibbons , an American-born British bandleader...
, 8 pygmy loris (7 in the wild and 1 in a semi-forested enclosure) and 4 black-shanked douc langurs. Here are their names:
GIBBONS STAYING AT THE CENTRE
- Luat (male)
- Ha (male) & Noi (female)
- Sa Mee (male)
GIBBONS BEING PREPARED FOR RELEASE
- Nha (male) & Cuchi (female)
- Dao (female), Lucy (female) and Khoi (male)
- Tau (male and white-cheeked gibbon) & Mei Lee (female and adoptive mother to Tau)
- Hien (male), Nhee (female) and Trang Bom (female)
- Teo (male) and Uh (female)
- Tim (male) and Charlotte (female)
- Hoa (female) and Bien (male)
- Charlie (male)
- Mika (female)
GIBBONS RELEASED INTO SEMI-WILD ENCLOSURES
- The Nursery Group: Ellie (the matriarch) Trang (female), Misu (female), Lim Huyen (male) and Tony (male)
- Lee Lee (male), Merry (female) and their baby (still to be named and gender unknown)
- Da (male), Lat (female) and their baby (still to be named and gender unknown)
All of the gibbons at Dao Tien are golden-cheeked gibbons apart from Tau who is a white-cheeked gibbon
PYGMY LORIS STAYING AT THE CENTRE
- Sergeant (male)
PYGMY LORIS BEING PREPARED FOR RELEASE
- Morris (male)
PYGMY LORIS RELEASED IN THE FORESTS OF DAO TIEN
- Mistletoe (female) and Thang (male), Phuong (female) and Tuyet (male)
PYGMY LORIS RELEASED IN THE FORESTS OF CAT TIEN
- Toby (male), Nhan (male) and Simone (female)
PYGMY LORIS IN SEMI-FORESTED ENCLOSURES
- Hai (female)
- Raphael (male)
- Lindsay (female)
BLACK-SHANKED DOUC LANGURS
- Chinh (female)
- Thanh (male)
- A female that still has to be named
- A baby male that still has to be named
SILVERED LANGUR
- A-Chih (male)
Television appearances
Awareness of the park has grown due to the ongoing TV documentary Monkey BusinessMonkey Business (TV series)
Monkey Business is a long-running TV series about the exploits of various primates who reside at Monkey World, a rescue centre and sanctuary for primates in Dorset, United Kingdom. The series features Jim and Dr. Alison Cronin, directors of Monkey World, as they travel around the world rescuing...
, which has completed its 9th season and its successor Monkey Life
Monkey Life (TV series)
Monkey Life is a TV series documenting the work of Dr. Alison Cronin and her team at Monkey World the largest monkey and ape rescue centre in the world....
, going on its 5th season. Other awareness is made through general TV coverage across the world, which include:
- Monkey LifeMonkey Life (TV series)Monkey Life is a TV series documenting the work of Dr. Alison Cronin and her team at Monkey World the largest monkey and ape rescue centre in the world....
- Season 4 on National Geographic now showing. - Monkey LifeMonkey Life (TV series)Monkey Life is a TV series documenting the work of Dr. Alison Cronin and her team at Monkey World the largest monkey and ape rescue centre in the world....
- Series 1,2 & 3 on Animal PlanetAnimal PlanetAnimal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
. Currently showing on Animal Planet (Europe). - Monkey BusinessMonkey Business (TV series)Monkey Business is a long-running TV series about the exploits of various primates who reside at Monkey World, a rescue centre and sanctuary for primates in Dorset, United Kingdom. The series features Jim and Dr. Alison Cronin, directors of Monkey World, as they travel around the world rescuing...
on ITVITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
and Animal Planet. A concluded series produced by Meridian Television focusing on Monkey World. Nine series have been broadcast to date, with two specials on "Jim Cronin's Legacy" broadcast in June 2008. Monkey Business has been succeeded by Monkey Life, produced by Primate Planet Productions Ltd. - Nature Watch on ITV
- Operation Chimpanzee on BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- State of the Ark on BBC
- Animal HospitalAnimal HospitalAnimal Hospital was a television show starring Rolf Harris that ran on the BBC from 1994 until 2004. The story showed animal welfare stories from RSPCA hospitals.-Location:...
on BBC - CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
& Sky TVBritish Sky BroadcastingBritish Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
Highlighting a rescue operation in TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
of smuggled chimpanzees - ITV GMTVGMTVGMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
Covering the illegal pet trade in Turkey. Since 1998 Monkey World has been working in cooperation with the Turkish Government to stop the smuggling of chimpanzees from the wild for the entertainment and pet trade. - QED Saving Trudy on BBC
- Russell BrandRussell BrandRussell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
often talks about Monkey World in his BBC Radio 2BBC Radio 2BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
programme & podcast, and mentions it on Big Brother Celebrity Highjack when a house mate makes monkey noises. - Karl PilkingtonKarl PilkingtonKarl Pilkington is a British podcaster, author, television personality and former radio producer. He is best known for the Sky travel series, An Idiot Abroad, which was also presented in the United States on the Science Channel, in Canada on Discovery Channel and in Australia on One HD, and The...
made a visit to Monkey World and was mentioned in his & Ricky GervaisRicky GervaisRicky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
' radio show on XFMXfmXfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
.
Awards
Monkey World has won an array of awards including Attraction of the Year 2000, and sixth best family attraction in Britain 2004. Jim Cronin and Alison Cronin jointly received the Jane Goodall Award for their work with Monkey World.Death of Jim Cronin
On Saturday 17 March 2007 Jim Cronin died in a New York hospital aged 55 years, from liver cancer.His widow, Alison, and the staff at Monkey World have promised to continue the legacy of Monkey World: "Monkey World will carry on with Alison at the forefront. We will make sure it is Jim’s lasting legacy."