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NO TRICKS JUST TREATS FOR THE MONKEYS

30 October 2008

'Trick or Treating' might have become one of the more recognised activities of Halloween but Longleat keepers have decided to turn the concept on its head and just treat their monkeys with some Halloween 'specials' this October!

For most kids, the Monkey Jungle at Longleat is a highlight of any trip around the Safari Park. For parents however, it can sometimes be a different matter as these cheeky creatures turn their attention towards the cars.

As Deputy Head Warden, Ian Turner, explained "Rhesus Monkeys are extremely intelligent creatures and, with small dexterous hands and mischievous natures, they have become renowned over the years for their playful behaviour on and with visitors cars.

"We are always looking for new ways to enrich their enclosure and are often introducing new trees, logs and even car tyres for the monkeys to swing on and interact with.

"Food however is a main monkey motivator and we decided this Halloween to introduce some Jack 'o' Lantern feeding devices both to keep in with the Halloween spirit and to offer a new and novel way of giving our monkeys some titbits and treats".

Longleat keepers carved out a number of pumpkins and filled them with chunks of apple and orange, primate cubes, dog biscuits and even lumps of pumpkin itself.

These Jack 'o' Lanterns were then placed strategically around the Monkey Jungle and keepers stood back to watch.

"To say that these feeding devices were a treat would be an under estimate" laughed Ian. "The pumpkins and their contents were simply mauraded by dozens of monkeys who then retreated to the trees to eat their spoils in comfort".

Rhesus Monkeys are one of the best known monkey species. It is native to northern India, Bangladesh and Thailand and may be found in grassland, woodland and mountainous regions. It many part of India, Rhesus Monkeys are considered to be sacred.

Issued by Longleat. For more information please contact Steve Mytton on 01985 845415.