Monkey Mayhem | Highcliffe School

Monkey Mayhem

Sixth Form Biologists head to Monkey World to study primate evolution and visit Sylvestre, an Orangutan they have recently renewed our adoption for.


It was primate evolution studies for the Year 13 Biologists as the ‘troop’ visited Monkey World on Wednesday 21st March at the Ape Rescue Centre near Wool, Dorset. The visit was to study primate evolution and to talk with the centre staff about ecology, conservation and artificial selection.

The day was an excellent conclusion to their A Level course. We arrived nice and early and headed for the lecture room where we learnt lots about the centre. We then went to visit numerous primates including the gibbons, Woolley monkeys, orang-utans, chimps, spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, macaque monkeys, marmosets and lemurs.

We also learned about how the centre was established and how the animals are rescued from countries across the world. The Director, Alison Cronin, is heavily involved in conservation work and educating governments to prevent cruelty to these animals. A good example is where the UK government have been encouraged to enforce the licensing of pet primates in the UK as opposed to making this trade illegal. Animals are also rescued from being exploited as photographer’s props and from experimental laboratories.

Later in the day we conducted an ethogram study (a psychological study of social behaviour) on selected primates. The focus was on the behaviours exhibited by the animals e.g. grooming in the chimp groups, mother-infant bonding in the Woolley monkey enclosure, pair bonding with gibbons as well as vocal communication mechanisms with the gibbons.

After lunch we experienced true monkey life in the Great Ape play area on an Easter egg hunt!

We also renewed our adoption of Silvestre, a Sumatran orang-utan. He will form part of a world breeding programme when he grows up! He is now sporting a fine beard and growing up quickly!

 


    Owned by: NOR | Last Published: 27/04/2018 08:31:34 | Next Update: N/A


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