We are thrilled to share some exciting news – the birth of an adorable baby macaque! Our newest addition, a girl named Hayley, was born on May 13th to proud parents Orcus and Phil, who are both dominant members of our macaque troop.
Hayley is already capturing our hearts with her adventurous spirit and confidence. Keeper Carolyn Booth couldn’t be more excited: “Hayley is still very small but already shows signs of being adventurous and confident with her keepers. Social status is extremely important within macaque groups; they live in highly structured hierarchies often based on lineage to the dominant female. With both her parents being high up in the hierarchy, little Hayley should be in a comfortable position growing up. Unlike other macaque species, male macaques are active parents and play a significant role in rearing their young. Visitors can often spot mum or dad snuggling Hayley in the macaque drive-thru.”
Our macaque drive-thru is one of the most popular areas of the park, offering our guests the chance to see these fascinating animals up close. It’s a special treat to see our macaques interacting in their natural social structures, and now with baby Hayley, it’s even more exciting.
Our macaques, who arrived from Gibraltar in 2014, have become cherished members of our park family. Sadly, Barbary macaques are endangered in the wild, with as few as 8,000 remaining. We’re committed to supporting the Barbary Macaque Awareness and Conservation project through our Link to the Wild Initiative. By fundraising and raising awareness, we’re helping to protect these incredible primates. Hayley’s birth is a testament to our ongoing dedication to conservation and education.
We’re open seven days a week, with extended hours on weekends throughout July and August. We invite you to come and meet Hayley and the rest of our animal family.