I did a Slow Loris keeper experience at Shaldon Wildlife trust zoo with the “family” and amazing staff that work there.
In this small and friendly zoo there a lot of beautiful monkeys that live in very good condition thanks to the love that the keepers do every single day.I was there to study the behavior of Bengal (Nycticebus bengalensis) and Pygmy Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) for two weeks.
There are two couple of each species and both are rescued from a wild trade and stay in a “special” nocturnal room where the “artificial” night comes at 10 AM until 10 PM, in this way the customers and the staff can see and work with them during the activity time.
My typical day like a Slow Loris’s keeper was:
- 8 AM cleaning the cages of nocturnal primates
- 9 AM feeding before the night (different fresh food every single day)
- 10 AM-13PM 1st session of watching the behavior and write simple ethogram (feed, travel, grooming, play, mark)
- 13 PM give the gum to stimulate them natural behavior
- 13 PM – 15 PM 2nd session of watching the behavior and write simple ethogram
- 15 PM training with always a different enrichment to stimulate them (bamboo with insect, the insect from keeper…)
For me was the first time like a “keeper” inside a zoo very close to primates and I learned a lot of interesting information in strict contact with professional keepers.
The meaning of this experience
I understood the importance of the zoo for species in critically endangered that can live quiet and sure only inside this place and the hard work and the love behind this reality.
I call every single person that can go to the amazing Devon to visit this brilliant zoo. Ask keepers for each curiosity because behind a cage there a lot of knowledge that you can learn. This experience can fill your heart in a different way and also you can help the monkeys and this hard work with the virtual adoptions!
I say a HUGE thank you to all the wonderful staff. In particular to Nic Dunn, Zak Showell and Carly Murray for your hospitality. ELEONORA FAVILLI
