Monkey world. » Monkey World

30-07-2007

If anyone wants to see a really well- presented Park exclusively for Primates, and with an excellent range of species, then they should head, not to Dorset, but to Apenheul in the Netherlands......

31-07-2007

But its completely subjective as to whether your criticisms are justified - I just find the discussion interesting. In the UK we have another, similar centre called Cefn erw yr Caehopkin, which I have not visited, but doesn't seem to have the same standard of enclosures as monkey world, with the chimps partly housed in the old cages taken from Penscynor Wildlife Park where they lived before it closed. However, I find it harder to be critical of it than if it was a conventional zoo because its primates were surplus and unwanted, or rescued animals.

31-07-2007

Now this place is a genuine 'Rescue Centre'- it doesn't advertise itself as a zoo and is not open to the public, I don't think. It is obviously run on a low budget so enclosures are not going to be anything but basic, though adequate for their purpose. They do have a number of Chimpanzees from the closed Penscynor Wildlife Park plus various Hamadryas Baboons and other primates rescued from situations both in Uk and abysmal conditions further afield. I think the two chimpanzees from Southport Zoo ended up here too. Southport's owner Doug Petrie would not send them to MonkeyWorld in Dorset when the zoo had to close, as he had clashed with them in the past over keeping the chimps at Southport (Monkeyworld said they shouldn't be there as conditions were poor...)

11-08-2007

I went to Monkey World last year and I thought it was amazing. The primates all seemed to being enjoying themselves (espescially the young chimps and orangutans) and behaving very close to naturally considering where most of them had come from. I didn't care that the enclosures weren't pretty, I was more interested in the animals strangely enough. I have adopted two chimps and an orangutan from Monkey World.

10-12-2007

I have to disagree. I was there when Jim (monkey world) Cronin (and film crew) came up to the zoo to take a look at the chimps at Southport. He said he would gladly take them from us, and get them back together whilst the cameras were rolling. but then once the cameras were off he refused. So to be fair Doug had tried to give them to Monkey World, and you can't really blame him for being angry at Jim. just goes to show that even a 'rescue center' can be totally unforgiving and play with the lives of animals it's supposed to be there to help.

As for the welsh place, we had a look at their website after they took some of the primates. They had the audacity to say that one of the gibbons (Missy) had come from Southport where it had been cruely neglected/ mistreated by the staff. (If I could have got my grubby little hands on the owner I'd have shown him cruelty). it was a total lie aimed at making people feel sorry and so donate money to him and a slur to all those keepers that spent their time trying to do their bit to make these animals lives better whilst educating the public.

10-12-2007

As someone who spends quite a bit of time explaining the whole apes aren't monkeys spiel I would love to see a name change. I have seen the show, and from what I know they do good work. Not as keen on the plan to relocate the 70 capuchins from South America to England though, when there is a sanctuary willing and able to take them in the habitat country. I would also like to see that offspring from the rarer species come online as being available to other institutions in the future, providing those institutions can provide good care for them.

10-12-2007

monkey world in Dorset are not very well liked by the private sector.

10-12-2007

Okay, you're better informed than I am about this. But why did Jim Cronin refuse to take the two chimps? Do you mean he only said that he would for the benefit of the camera? Or was there some other reason?

10-12-2007

Wed site says its open:

"We are open to visitors between 10-30am and dusk right throughout the year.

ADMISSION CHARGES

All admission charges are used for feeding and caring for the animals

Day Ticket

Adults £ 5.00
Juniors (age 3 to 14 years) £ 3.50
Senior Citizens £ 3.50
Family Ticket (2 adults & 3 children) £ 17.00
Disabled Adults £ 4.00
Disabled Juniors (age 3 to 14 years) £ 3.00
Carers £ 4.00 "

Have a read of their news page, looks like they are having trouble with Twycross wanting some Gibbons back that went south port and are now at Cefn erw yr . Don't know the Cefn on very well but from the looks of their website thay genrally rescue a lot of needy primates and seem to really care for them. I also like Monkeyworld. I quite liked the enclousres and all the primates looked very contented.

10-12-2007

Cefn-yr-erw is open to the public but fails in many areas to comply with either the Zoo Licensing act or the DWA Act. It used to be run with the latter though open to the public(!). I'm not sure if that situation has changed.

The chimpanzee accomodation there is actually pretty good but it is about the only thing that is.

I recall the owners bemoaning the chimpanzee enclosure at Belfast zoo for having only limited climbing availability whilst they seem quite happy to keep Gibbons in an hot-wired field with a stick in it to climb on.

The place has no perimeter fence, has a public road crossing the site in one direction and a public foot path in the other. There is nothing to stop anyone from wandering in.

The owners condem animals being used in the entertainment industry but are quite happy to use their own animals via a professional animal television co-ordinator (that I've seen first hand).

Having said all that, SOME of their animals have come from truly apalling conditions and are no doubt enjoying much better lives now.

11-12-2007

I stand corrected... I think the admission charges seem a bit steep for what must be a fairly limited display- but if people are mug enough! I can understand an admission charge as otherwise the upkeep of all the primates they have must be a big financial drain.

There used to be quite a large group of Sooty Mangabeys at Penscynor (they originally came from ZSL) but its seems they didn't go to 'Cefn' when Penscynor closed- they aren't on their website. Anyone know what happened to the Mangabeys?

13-12-2007

I believe it was just for the camera. I remember Doug having words with Jim, about ten minutes after, with out the cameras being present, I don't actually know what was said though ( just saw them meeting, but was there when he said he'd take them). Doug did tell us that Jim had refused them saying they were nutters and would never be able to be put with any other chimps

Either way, he knew full well (whilst cameras were on) that he was not going to take them.

I do remember that Doug was quite upset by it all.

13-12-2007

I can understand that....