Christmas comes early for Highlands' snow monkeys
Christmas has come early for the UK’s only troop of snow monkeys!
Keepers at the Highland Wildlife Park by Kincraig have put together special treats for the group including colourful gift-wrapped presents filled with tasty morsels.
Mr Douglas Richardson, Head of Living Collections, said: “Snow monkeys are naturally very inquisitive animals – they love to inspect anything new or different, especially if it involves food. "Some of their favourite treats are cooked potatoes and they receive one of their main meals as a scatter feed each day at 11.30am, which is one of the most popular daily events with visitors.”
It will be the first Christmas for the troop’s youngest pair, who were born in May and June this year.
Keepers will wait until the youngsters are independent from their mothers before sexing and naming them.
The park is home to 21 snow monkeys, which are also known as Japanese macaques, but Mr Richardson said they feel right at home in the Highland climate.
He commented: “Our snow monkey enclosure is one of the Europe’s largest primate enclosures and widely considered one of the best as its size and complexity offers the troop a wide variety of natural terrain.
"The enclosure features a large pond, trees for climbing, natural food sources and plenty of space.
"When it gets really cold, the pond actually freezes over and visitors can watch the monkeys running and sliding across it!”
Snow monkeys are the most northerly living non-human primate. They are found throughout Japan, from the northwest of Honshu Island to the southern island of Yaku-Shima.
Famous for their ruddy pink faces and impressively thick coats, they can survive harsh winters that reach -15°C.
