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Dunedin Botanic Garden - Aviary Monkeys at the Dunedin Botanic Gardens (1953-1967)

Discussion in 'New Zealand' started by Chlidonias, 27 Sep 2017.

  1. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    An interesting tale which I just happened across.

    Monkey business in Dunedin

    The article is quite lengthy but, to summarise, in 1953 a pair of Bonnet Macaques were obtained by the Dunedin City Council from Wellington Zoo for their newly-built Monkey House in the Botanic Gardens (presumably one of the cages in the current aviary complex). The pair had a baby in 1954. The female died in October 1956, and soon after the remaining two animals escaped and the youngest one was hit and killed by a car. The male was recaptured and the recommendation was made to rehome him. It seems a mate was obtained instead, but by 1967 he was alone again (apparently for "at least four years") and that year he was traded to a man in Picton for some birds.
     
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  2. Kawekaweau

    Kawekaweau Well-Known Member

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    Do you know when monkeys were banned as pets in New Zealand?
     
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  3. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    Would have been in the 1980s some time, maybe late 1970s. The last pet monkeys in NZ were a couple of macaques kept by Lady Isaac in Christchurch around then.
     
    Kawekaweau likes this.