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In the summer of 2024, Dr. Roland Hilgartner, Head of research and Director at Affenberg Salem (our sister park in Germany), embarked on a mission to Morocco to visit the Barbary macaques in their native habitats. The trip aimed to evaluate both the current presence of these primates and the success of reintroduction efforts from the 1980s. Roland’s journey was marked by both encouraging discoveries and concerning signs of ongoing challenges.

On June 14th, he visited the Ouzoud Waterfall, a picturesque site in the Grand Atlas village of Tanaghmeilt, where several social groups of Barbary macaques reside. The area’s natural beauty draws many tourists, leading to interactions between humans and monkeys. Tourists can feed the monkeys with peanuts, which can lead to conflicting situations, because tourists are close to monkeys.

After Ouzoud, he traveled to Boutferda, the site of a successful reintroduction of monkeys, from our sister parks in France & Germany, in the 1980s. After a challenging two-hour trek, he located two monkey groups high in the canyons. While the sighting was promising, evidence of goats and shepherds in the area indicated ongoing competition for resources, highlighting the pressures these macaques face in the wild. Roland is very happy to have found monkeys at the reintroduction-site, as  this means that they are the descendants of the reintroduced population.

Next, he visited the Ourika Valley, a rocky landscape 30 kilometers from Marrakech, home to several distinct groups of Barbary macaques. During his visit, he encountered three groups. One group, located near tourists, was being fed unhealthy food by visitors. Another group lived within an apple tree plantation, leading to conflicts with farmers as the monkeys foraged on their crops. The third group, the most isolated, remained in the remote rocky areas, largely avoiding human contact.

Finally, he concluded his research in Marrakech, where he encountered juvenile macaques, aged 2 to 4.5 years, being exploited as photo props in markets. These young monkeys were kept in chains and dressed in human clothes, their chance of a wild life suppressed for the sake of profit.

Conclusion

The findings from Dr. Roland Hilgartner’s mission in Morocco highlight the ongoing challenges in protecting Barbary macaques. Human-wildlife conflicts, habitat competition, and exploitation continue to threaten the survival of these remarkable primates.

To protect Barbary macaques, it is crucial to support conservation efforts. Individuals can play their part by being responsible tourists, avoiding interactions that harm wildlife, and supporting organisations dedicated to the conservation of endangered species. By raising awareness and taking collective action, we can help ensure a future where Barbary macaques thrive in their natural habitats.

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In 2024, we helped Matt Gardiner, the PhD wizard from Liverpool John Moore’s University, to decode the secrets hidden in monkey poop!

Matt collected monkey faeces to trial a new measure of gut health analysis. Matt then travelled to Morocco in April and used the techniques he practised here at Monkey Forest-  to conduct the same studies on wild Barbary macaques. It is hoped that this new analysis can then be used more widely with other primates.

Now, you might be wondering, “What’s the scoop on faecal glucocorticoids?” Well, buckle up, because it’s all about the health of these fascinating primate adventurers.

Why Poo Matters: The Inside Scoop on Monkey Health

Turns out, the levels of faecal glucocorticoids can spill the beans on a monkey’s well-being. Matt believes that by perfecting his method here at Trentham Monkey Forest, he could extend a helping hand to the wild Barbary macaques residing in Morocco. Imagine using poo science for the greater good of primates!

Enter Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometry: A Poo-nique Approach

Matt’s got his eyes on a potential game-changer – Fourier-Transform Infrared spectrometry. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, promise! This cutting-edge method could be the key to measuring faecal glucocorticoid concentrations in a more affordable and efficient way. Think of it as the next level of primate health detective work!

Monkey Forest has supported in-situ conservation and research since its inception in 2005. We pride ourselves in the research we facilitate, often directly helping wild primates.

Matt’s results are in the pipeline, but we hope this research helps further support the monkey in the wild.

Stay tuned for more updates as more and more primate conservation projects unfold at the forest.

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On the 17th August, Monkey Forest Members will be welcomed for an exciting, informative morning event.

Member’s will be invited to join us from 10am and will be greeted with a complimentary hot drink. The they will get the awesome chance to listen to exclusive talks from the Monkey Forest team, during our quieter morning period.

After a nice, hot beverage, Member’s will head over to our brand-new Picnic Tipi by Park Director Matt Lovatt and Park Manager Lisa Wardell who will be delivering a captivating talk all about the conservational research projects that have been undertaken at our parks during the last 50 years – a fantastic dive into the research gatherings and what makes our forest so special!

Then, Marketing & PR Manager Josh Torlop will be handing out exclusive, top photography tips to help our members get the best selfies/ wildlife shots as possible at Monkey Forest!

Josh takes a lot of the pictures that you will see on display at the forest or on social media and is looking forward to sharing little digital imagery nuggets with our amazing members.

Proof of membership will be required upon arrival.

10am – Welcome drink

10:30am – Meet in the Tipi

11am – Head to park for photos and a walk!

If you are a Monkey Forest Member and would like to join us, please book your free event here.

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We were the final part of the conservation jigsaw first pioneered in Kintzeim, France in 1969 by two passionate nature enthusiasts named Gilbert De Turckeim and Jacques Renaud

The post Happy 19th Birthday Trentham Monkey Forest: Submit your images to be a part of our 20th year Monkey Mosaic in 2025 appeared first on Monkey Forest Trentham.

We are SO HAPPY to share with you that Monkey Forest has been blessed with the arrival of 10 BABY MONKEYS during the past 2 months!

Since we announced the first two births of the year, back in early May, 8 more baby monkeys have been born in our unique woodland – confirming an incredibly successful baby season already at Monkey Forest, as 10 babies have been welcomed to the world and into their respective groups!

The babies are very popular amongst guests, the team and the monkeys and we love sharing the baby news with everyone as and when the little ones arrive!

We have seen some lovely, wholesome behaviours within the groups towards the babies. This includes teeth chattering towards them, which can be likened to ‘smiling’, males and females doing spots of baby sitting for mum to give her a little break and some even grooming the fur of the little ones – making sure they’re all clean!

During late spring and early summer, it is a fantastic time to visit Monkey Forest as it is highly likely that little monkey feet will be tip tapping across the forest floor and visitors will have a very good chance of spotting them in all their glory.

Usually, we hope to celebrate between 6-10 births each year within the forest. So we can safely say that this year has been a fantastic year for births at the forest.

The babies are usually born high-up in the treetops late at night and our guides are the first to meet the precious new arrivals as they make their way down from the trees in the morning, whilst clinging to mum who is usually eager to get a good breakfast down her!

Luckily, they have been greeted with this precious presence TEN TIMES!!!!

Despite there being another month to go of summer, we are absolutely thrilled to confirm this fantastic number of important Barbary macaque additions. Barbary macaques are an endangered species, with less than 8,000 remaining in the wild.

So each birth each year is incredibly important for the continuation of this fascinating yet unique species of primate.

Since we opened in 2005, we have welcomed over 150 baby Barbary macaques!

We are looking to confirm the genders of the babies soon, so keep an eye out on our social media platforms as we will be announcing them as soon as possible… keep your eyes peeled like a banana!

Book a visit to see the babies here

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It is officially Baby Season!

This means fluffy, wrinkly baby Barbary macaques will be gracing us with their presence.

We hope for between 6-10 babies each year during these months.

Make sure you visit while they’re little as they grow very quickly!

They learn to walk and climb by 10 days old!!!!

The post Baby Season May-August 2024 appeared first on Monkey Forest Trentham.

Trentham Monkey Forest is excited to announce the first baby arrivals of the year as two newborn Barbary macaques have been born within the past few weeks within our unique Staffordshire woodland.

The two adorable babies were born to their proud mothers high up in the trees, overnight, as the monkeys live as close to wild Barbary macaque life as possible – living in the forest all-year-round, with next to no human interference.

The Barbary macaque is the closest wild-living primate to the UK, their numbers in the wild have been declining rapidly, with their population now isolated to fragmented habitat in the mountainous regions of Morocco and Algeria. It is thought that fewer than 8,000 remain in the wild.

We are absolutely over the moon with this small but important win for the endangered species, with even more babies expected to arrive in the coming months.

Visitors to Trentham Monkey Forest can now see these playful babies and their families as they explore the forest.

Monkey Forest Park Director, Matt Lovatt, says “We are thrilled to welcome these new additions to our Monkey Forest family. They are already proving to be incredibly popular with our visitors, who are enjoying watching them play and interact with their monkey families. Barbary macaques are a highly endangered species, with less than 8,000 in the wild, so every birth that takes place at the park is very special and gives all of us so much joy.”

Monkey Forest is dedicated to educating visitors about Barbary macaques and their importance in the ecosystem. As seed dispersers, the monkeys play a key role in widening the biodiversity of their habitat.

With our successful breeding program and conservation efforts, the park is helping to ensure the survival of the Barbary macaque species for generations to come.

Trentham Monkey Forest works closely with organisations that help protect the wild Barbary macaques in Morocco and Algeria as well as other primates that are facing threats in the wild.

For more information about Trentham Monkey Forest and its conservation efforts, and to book a trip to visit the babies, head to  www.monkey-forest.com.

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Nature Tots is an indoor and outdoor adult and toddler group run by Staffordshire Wildlife trust. Each week has a different theme; we could be bug hunting, marvelling at magic or exploring a story. All activities are designed to encourage your toddler’s engagement with nature. So why not join us for crafts, trails and games.

All sessions will be from 10:30 am – 12 pm and the meeting point will be at the Monkey Forest Tipi.

One £10 ticket covers both x1 Adult & x1 Child entry. Additional adult/children will have to have a separate ticket.

We play whatever the weather so please make sure your little ones and yourself are dressed suitably.

Suitable for 18 months- 5 years old.

Nature Tots Session themes:

5th June- Caterpillars and butterflies

This week our theme is caterpillars and butterflies. Let’s see what creatures live at the Monkey Forest!

12th June- Beautiful Birds

This week our theme is Beautiful Birds. Let’s do some birdy activities and some bird (and monkey)spotting with our binoculars!

19th June– Wild Sounds

This week our theme is Wild Sounds. Using nature lets make some noise!

26th June- Bees and Bugs

This week our theme is bees and bugs. Let’s follow the bee trail and see what creatures live at the Monkey Forest!

3rd July- Frogs and Ponds

This week our theme is frogs and ponds! Can you hop like a frog?

17th July– Tales of the Tail-less

This week our theme is tales of the tail-less. Barbary Macaques don’t have a tail, what other creatures in the UK don’t have a tail? Let’s find out through lots of games and activities!

24th July– Ladybirds

This week our theme is ladybirds. Let’s do some ladybird activities and see if we can spot any ladybirds or ladybird larvae!

4th September– Senses

This week our theme is senses. Let us learn about our senses and use them for lots of exciting games!

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