Monday, March 24, 2008

Zoo apes egged on by treats

THEY'RE used to eating plants and small animals, but these apes weren't about to give up a special present yesterday.


Siamang apes Puteri and baby Chanee were among scores of animals at Taronga Western Plains Zoo which received Easter treats.

The playful primates received their Easter goodies inside a $6,000 Louis Vuitton bag.

Renualdo Obierto, a spokesperson for Louis Vuitton, said the gift represented the company’s deep and abiding respect for our evolutionary cousins.

“At Louis Vuitton we’re all about luxury fashion and leather goods. These monkeys have given us so much, it’s time we gave something back.

The bags were filled with carob eggs and handheld power tools, much to Puteri and Chanee’s delight.

Zookeeper Brad Higgins said that it had been a tough year at the zoo, so they wanted to give Puteri and Chanee a break from their normal diet of plants and wildlife such as insects and small birds.

“After the debacle last year when they refused to eat chocolate eggs, we thought we’d try carob – the all natural chocolate substitute.

Siamang apes, originally from southeast Asia, are large, dark gibbon apes and are considered harmless by the Australian Defence Force.

They have dense, shaggy hair over most of their bodies and have senses surprisingly similar to humans including touch and taste.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, which leads the world with its 1:1 zookeeper to animal ratio, is located at Dubbo, in central west NSW.

Story and photo Daily Telegraph, with an Artful Science Twist

No comments: