Keepers at the Living Links Centre have created special Halloween-themed enrichment for the monkeys; spooky pumpkins, paper mache balloons and ice lollies have been hung from the trees in the outdoor enclosures.
Sophie Pearson, Team Leader for Living Links and the Budongo Trail, said:
“All of the keepers have spent several days working on the Halloween surprise for our monkeys and we love coming up with new enrichment ideas for them to enjoy. We have made spooky faces on paper mache balloons and filled Halloween cups with frozen treats. They also don’t often get pumpkin so this will be an extra special surprise for them!
“Capuchins are very intelligent and inquisitive, with their own individual personalities, and it is great fun waiting to see how they will interact with the various activities or treats they receive. By hanging the enrichment in the trees, there is an added level of complexity, which will mean the capuchins will have to use their prehensile tails and excellent climbing skills to reach their treats.
“They are also quite destructive and simply love to pull things apart, just like little children.”
The Halloween enrichment will provide both mental and physical stimulation for the monkeys, as well as provide visitors with the opportunity to see the troupe display natural behaviours normally seen in the wild. The capuchins at Edinburgh Zoo regularly receive enrichment that utilises their problem solving skills and encourages team work within the complex social hierarchy.