Lemurs open new enclosures at Burgers' Zoo

On Thursday 18 April 2019 at 14:00, ring-tailed lemurs and black lemurs will officially open their new place of residence. Zookeepers will spread healthy delicacies such as lychees and grapes in front of the large windows and throughout the outdoor area for the prosimians to come and find. After the official opening ceremony, which is to be held in the presence of invitees and the media, the newly built accommodations will be open to the public from 15:30 onwards.

Ring-tailed lemurs, squirrel monkeys and coatis 

Burgers’ Zoo has completely renovated the area between the main entrance, the elephant enclosure and the Park Restaurant. The original animal enclosures in this part of the zoo date from the 1960s and have been ely replaced with new animal enclosures. One of the new enclosures houses ring-tailed lemurs and black lemurs, while in the other enclosure Peruvian squirrel monkeys meet coatis. In addition to the fully indoor Bush, Desert, Ocean, Mangrove and Kids Jungle, the Arnhem zoo has become even less dependent on the weather thanks to these heated indoor enclosures where the animals remain visible to visitors even in adverse weather conditions.

An essential role for European breeding programmes

Burgers’ Zoo plays an important role in the European breeding programmes for ring-tailed lemurs, black lemurs and Peruvian squirrel monkeys by housing only male groups. Given the social group structure of these species, there is a surplus of males in zoos. Other zoos can mow manage successful breeding groups because Burgers’ Zoo offers these males a modern home. 

Increasing the visitor experience 

The thematic layout of the landscape in and around the new animal enclosures and the excellent view of the animals enhance the visitor experience. Also, the animals are now visible all year round thanks to the heated indoor areas. The visitor paths in the area have also been laid out less steeply than they were before.

Sustainable irrigation and water uptake in the soil 

Burgers’ Zoo collects rainwater from the roofs of the Desert and the Kids Jungle in specially constructed reservoirs. The rainwater is then used to water the plants in and around the new accommodations and to fill the penguin home. By building wadis around the new animal enclosures, the excess rainwater that ends up at these locations is naturally absorbed into the soil. Because of its sustainable and environmentally friendly policy, the Arnhem Zoo has proudly received the golden gradation of the Green Key every year since 2004.