Monkey World 11.2.25

We had a fantastic time visiting Monkey World today! We learnt so much about the animals that are cared for at the park and really loved seeing the monkeys and apes in real life!

We started our day with an education workshop with Ali, who taught us lots about the rainforest, monkeys and apes that live there. First she got us to think about what the climate is like in the rainforest. She contrasted the rainforest habitat with a hot and dry desert, snowy icecaps and even rolling hills and fields like Cerne Abbas. She explained that the rainforest is warm, wet and filled with lots of giant trees and plants. We worked together to identify some animals that live there including parrots (macaw), tree frogs, jaguars, sloths and of course monkeys and apes!

We learnt how to name and classify some of the species of primate that live at the park as well as the adaptations that help them to survive in the wild. Ali taught us that all the animals at Monkey World are primates, just like we are! We also learnt that not all the animals at Monkey World are monkeys; some are actually apes! The larger species such as the chimpanzees and orang-utans are 'great apes' and the gibbons are smaller apes as they do not have tails. As we walked around the park we looked closely for the tails; if we spotted a tail we knew it was a monkey! Ali also taught us that great apes, such as the orang-utans have very long arms. As humans when we are standing up our arms and hands reach down to our thighs, but orang-utans arms reach all the way to the floor! This is so they can climb and swing expertly through the trees in the rainforest where they come from. Ali also taught us that male and female orang-utans look different; male orang-utans have round flat faces as they have cheek 'flanges' but the female orang-utans don't. We learnt that the Orang-utans are orange coloured but the chimpanzees are black. Chimpanzees walk on all fours and have longer arms than they have legs. We had a try at walking like chimpanzees! It was quite hard work! Ali also showed us that all apes have hands, fingers, fingernails and thumbs; just like we do! But they also have a thumb on their foot! This helps them with climbing and eating food. Ali showed us a video of some Gibbons swinging through the trees in the park; they can move very fast! Up to 30 mph! The special way they swing through the trees is called ‘brachiating’ (brack-ee-ating).

Ali also taught us about the different monkeys that live in the park. We learnt about woolly monkeys and how they can use their tail as a 5th arm or leg to help them hang, balance, jump and swing around in the trees! We loved watching the woolly monkeys climb through the tunnel over our heads over the path when we were exploring the park! We also saw capuchins, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, marmosets, tamarins and saki monkeys. Some of the monkeys were really small with very fluffy ears and faces! Lots were hiding away and keeping cosy inside their houses but some did come out to play in their enclosures so we could see them climbing, swinging, jumping and eating! Some of the apes were tucked up warm in their blankets! And some monkeys were keeping warm lying on top of their radiators!

After eating our packed lunches inside the cafe we went for an explore around the park in small groups to meet some of the apes and monkeys we had been learning about! The children had a fantastic time getting up close and personal with the different species and putting their new knowledge to the test when looking closely and identifying the animals. 

Enjoy sharing the pictures together and talking about our experiences together. Perhaps you will visit again with your families (perhaps when it is a little warmer!!).