Getting ready for brass monkeys

Terra Natura get animals ready for cold weather

Experts are administering vitamin C supplements to species that feel the cold, and the heating systems are now functioning.

Terra Natura’s vet and keeper team have activated their winter protocol to keep vulnerable species warm. This protocol is usually implemented in November, but this year it has been brought forward to October. It will be in operation until March.

The measures taken include administering vitamin C supplements to avoid respiratory diseases and the heating systems have been turned on.

Modifying diets also forms part of the protocol; calorie intake is increased by 20%, which helps the creatures to keep warm.

The vitamin C supplements are especially aimed at the park’s small primates, including the cotton-top tamarin, golden-headed lion tamarin, pygmy marmoset, black-tufted marmoset, black titis, capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, white handed gibbons, siamangs, amongst others.

The vitamin C, administered in special gumdrops, stimulates the primates’ immune system in a natural manner and helps them fight off respiratory diseases. Keeper also prepare special warm mashes for these primates on very cold days.

The park has interior shelters that are heated with warm air, radiators and thermal tiling that keeps in the warmth. The temperature of these shelters adapts according to the outside temperature, when these rise, then the inside heating temperature reduces.

The Indian rhinos are also a species that feel the cold, keepers have to take special care with them, as a baby rhino was born in September and is not yet a month and a half old. Their shelter is enclosed and has heating as well as thermal tile flooring.

The flying foxes, reptiles, armadillos and macaws are also subject to the winter protocol that includes keepers having to wear disposable gloves and wear a mask if they have a cold, to avoid passing it on to their charges.