WATCH: Lion Country Safari squirrel monkeys get more space to swing in habitat as tall as a tree

Valentina Palm, Palm Beach Post
·1 min read

LOXAHATCHEE — The squirrel monkeys of Lion Country Safari have swung into a new home with ropes, ladders and an elevated "monkey highway" where visitors can admire the orange-and-yellow creatures from multiple angles.

The safari staff unveiled the multispecies habitat, which doubles the monkey's previous space with a 16-foot ceiIling, trees and aerial plans. It's so big that it also houses a red-footed tortoise and a rhinoceros iguana.

Haley McCann, the park's spokesperson, said the monkeys are enthusiastically exploring the new environment. Guests lined up to see them during the weekend, with children following them for hours with their eyes.

"We wanted to give them additional vertical space since they are meant to live in treetops," said McCann. "They will have more opportunities for climbing and swinging around."

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A new, larger habitat for squirrel monkeys opened at Lion Country Safari in March 2023.
A new, larger habitat for squirrel monkeys opened at Lion Country Safari in March 2023.

Lion Country Safari is home to six squirrel monkeys, three males and three females. They are recognizable by their short orange and yellow fur, golden backs, white face, beige paws and hairy tails. Guests can see them on the safari's walk-through area, which is included in the admission ticket.

The species is native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, where they perish due to being captured for the pet trade and because of habitat loss. The safari's troop is part of the Squirrel Monkey Species Survival Plan, a global wildlife conservation program.

Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on Twitter at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lion Country Safari adds space to swing to squirrel monkey habitat