Macaques make a move

10/02/2016 in Edinburgh Zoo

RZSS Edinburgh Zoo has revealed its latest visitor attraction, a brand new enclosure for the Zoo’s 17 endangered Barbary macaques. The new exhibit was opened to the public on Monday 8 February.

Ideally suited to the hardy primates, the macaques’ new home features steep, rocky terrain for the mischievous monkeys to climb over and plenty of climbing ropes, spanned throughout the enclosure to keep them stimulated and entertained. Visitors will also have an improved viewing experience, with increased levels of visibility and the chance to view this active species in an enhanced environment. A visitor viewing platform offers an exciting up-close experience of the enclosure.

Jo Elliott, Animal Collections Manager at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “We’re delighted with the new home for our Barbary macaques, as it really is the perfect terrain for them. They’ve been thoroughly enjoying their new spacious environment, as well as the sheer cliff faces and rocks that they’ve been climbing enthusiastically. Visitors are also much more immersed in the macaques’ environment thanks to a series of large viewing windows. We hope that the Barbary macaques, complete with their impressive new enclosure, will help raise awareness of how threatened the species is in the wild, as well as how important it is to conserve this species.”

The Barbary macaque is native to the Atlas and Rif mountain ranges in Morocco and Algeria and is also found in Gibraltar. The Barbary macaque is the only macaque found in Africa, whilst the small population living in Gibraltar are the only free-ranging monkeys in Europe. There are 20 different species of macaque. Barbary macaques have a thick fur that is a brown to yellowish colour, with a dark pink face. They belong to the old world monkey category which includes species such as baboons, mangabeys, mandrills and patas monkeys.

The last baby Barbary macaque to be born at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo was in June 2014 and was named Athan, which means big ears. In recent years a total of 12 Barbary macaque babies have been born at the Zoo and the species previously lived in the Monkey House at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo.

Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the biggest threat facing this primate species is the loss of their natural habitat as a result of urbanisation and extensive logging of forests. Remaining wild populations are becoming increasingly fragmented and isolated since migration is no longer possible in many areas.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland makes an annual species payment to the conservation of the Barbary macaques. This donation helps fund conservation and research efforts of this species out in the wild in Morocco.

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