Original article with photos here Apenheul Primate Park J.C. Wilslaan 21-31 7313 HK Apeldoorn, Holland Phone: + 31-555 215 214; +31-653 865 823 Home Veterinarian in charge: Jeanette van de Wal Opened from March until the end of October From the architectural and enrichment point of view I consider Apenheul to have the best design of all the zoos that I have had the opportunity to visit until now. The peculiar philosophy of this zoo is to keep as many species of primates as possible free range and mixed. The visitors are able to walk in the same areas as the animals, there is even the possibility of interactions but this should be avoided. The primates do not feel threatened, nor attack the visitors. The park is placed in the forest so it is designed to use as much of the natural space as possible. The enrichment is abundant, trees are connected through many ropes, ladders and branches; tunnels and bridges make the connections between different areas. Some feeding places are hanged from trees or in different burrows. In this way the animals are in a constant search for food witch keeps them occupied, many times they don't even realize that the visitors are walking close to them. The boundaries of the zoo are built in such way that they use natural barriers and electrical fences instead of walls or regular fences. Water ponds and rivers delimit some parts of the park, as well as the distance between the trees inside the zoo and those from outside is calculated so that the monkeys will not be able to jump. Electric fences are placed in strategic areas, eg. in pounds, on bridges, different tress. Everything is so well masked by the vegetation that will give the impression of not having any kind of limits. Species witch presented veterinary interest: Squirrel monkey- Saimiri boliviensis: In the zoo there are more than 100 individuals, free ranging in the warm periods and in kept inside in the colder season. Every young animals is chipped and sexed, and males are always changed with other zoos. The health status is monitored in winter, where 10% of the animals are tested for TB. In 1966 a death case form TB was reported which lead to the euthanasia of all positive animals. The method used for TB surveillance is injecting Bovine TB in the upper eyelid and after 72h it is checked; in case of a positive TB reaction the upper eyelids is swollen. There is also the possibility for the TB Interferon test and use a vaccine with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Every death is followed by a pathological exam. Bonobo/ Pan paniscus: There are 10 individuals, the indoor house presents heated biological floor - it is better for the animals, they found it more comfortable, close to natural environment, it could be changed once a 3-4 years but still there are problems with protozoan and bacterial growth. In 2001 there was a TB case in a bonobo witch led to: • taking blood samples, swabs, lung X-rays, ultrasound of the abdomen • the ground material was completely renewed • every animal from the zoo was tested for TB It is suspected that the infection was introduced with animals from Congo and Belgium and in 2004 the groups were negative for TB Javan Langur/ Trachepithecus auratus auratus This is the clinical case of a male Langur of 15 years which presented blindness and subsequent cataract. After blood and urine samples were taken and analyzed they indicated diabetes mellitus with elevated liver values. It was operated by a human doctor for cataract. Now measurements for urine glucose are taken daily and it is given porcine Insulin shots (4 units or more). The ape continues to be the breeding male! Orangutan /Pongo Pygmaeus This is a quick overview of some clinical cases in orangs. • One animal’s behavior was indicative for depression and it is currently given antidepressives (Prozac) • An other orang was subjected to cataract surgery, but unfortunately he died later from a chronic pneumonia • A case of stroke with the sudden paralysis of an arm. After a CT scan in a human hospital, was concluded that a residual paralysis still persists, so as treatment Aspirin is being given daily for blood thinning. Gorilla /Gorilla gorilla: The zoo has two location systems. In 1998 a baby presented diarrhea because of a Shigella infection. There was also a case of miscarriage of a 10 year old female. In 2005 a Silverback died from Encephalitis, so the other 4 males were kept in a bachelor group, a new silverback was introduced. Woolly monkeys/ Lagothrix lagotricha: This species presents a specific Hepatitis B Virus. There was a case of a female that showed a Chronical Vaginal Prolaps witch could give problems during parturition. In this case it was preferred to use contraceptives. Black howler monkey/Alouatta caraya: In this species is interesting that the femaes have blonde hair and the males are born blond but with the age they changed it in darker to black hair. Golden Lion Tamarin/ Leontopithecus rosalia White-faced saki/ Pithecia pithecia A similar Park as Apenheul is in La Vallée des Singes, and the architect was the same person. Ovidiu Rosu
As far as I recall from Apenheul's vet story, it was a state of lethargy comparing with his normal behavior, loss of appetite, unwilling to play with his companions. No abnormal blood parameters were seen, so, depression was included as a differential diagnosis. After the treatment with Prozac, the orang status improved. Unfortunately my conversation with the vet about this case wasn't as specific as I would have wanted to be and I don't have more data.
How many of these species are free roaming. I have a guess, but free roaming gorillas and bonobos would be quite a thing, lol.
From the top of my head; The only primates that are really free to roam near the visitors are some of the lemurs (red ruffed, crowned, black and ringtails), the squirrel monkeys, the white-faced saki together with the golden lion tamarins and the barbary macaques.
Apenheul doesn't keep any crowned lemurs and the black ones are offshow. Also freeranging are the gouldi's monkeys, red titi and golden headed tamarin. Species that are not freeranging: howlermonkey 2 species of capuchin spidermonkey 3 tamarin species Javan langur liontailed macaque Orang utan Gorilla Whitecheeked gibbon Patas monkey Bonobo Crowned sifakay redbellied lemur visayan warty pigs, pecari, capibara, coati and some other non-primates.
