Monarto Safari Park

Monarto Safari Park is a non-government conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps to save species from extinction.

Friday feels – no social distancing required for hugging Chimpanzee mother and daughter duo

Friday feels – no social distancing required for hugging Chimpanzee mother and daughter duo 

It’s the heartwarming vision we all need to see during these trying times. Monarto Safari Park’s chimpanzee mother and daughter duo Hannah and Hope were spotted having a luxuriously long hug, bonding and grooming session on CCTV camera.

“We wanted everyone to see this tender moment between Hannah and Hope,” said Senior Keeper, Laura Hanley.

“The interactions with all 12 chimps in the troop are always special with 27-year-old Hannah and two-year-old daughter Hope providing many of these.

“Tomorrow is the ninth birthday of female chimpanzee Zuri. We will be treating the troop to a range of enrichment and we’d love visitors to come along and watch the action at the chimp platform at 2.30pm,” finished Laura.

Chimpanzees are highly endangered with as little as 350,000 remaining in the wild. Sadly, their habitat is being destroyed to mine coltan, the mineral used in many electronic devices. Zoos SA is working with MobileMuster, Phone Cycle, Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Jane Goodall Institute Australia to divert phones from landfill and save chimps from extinction.

The current campaign to collect 500 phones is now at just over 200 phones! Zoos SA is asking visitors to drop their old phones along with their accessories into the collection boxes at the Chimp Platform at Monarto Safari Park or the front gate at Adelaide Zoo. For more information look here.

Monarto Safari Park is open to the public. As a Covid Management Plan site visitors are asked to book tickets in advance and to wear face masks at all times. For tickets head to www.monartosafari.com.au/tickets

About Zoos SA

Zoos SA is a not-for-profit conservation charity that exists to connect people with nature and save species from extinction.

Zoos SA acknowledges the Country on which we stand always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land and we pay our deepest respect and gratitude to Kaurna (Adelaide Zoo) and Ngarrindjeri (Monarto Safari Park) Elders, past, present and emerging.

We undertake critical conservation work throughout Australia and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands.

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