Hoo Zoo Welcomes Eight Squirrel Monkeys as Conservation Ambassadors

 Ryan Pon

26 March 2025

Hoo Zoo Welcomes Eight Squirrel Monkeys as Conservation Ambassadors

Squirrel monkeys at Hoo Zoo

    Hoo Zoo in Telford, Shropshire, United Kingdom recently welcomed eight squirrel monkeys after a 250-mile journey from Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent. To accommodate the troop, the zoo built a new habitat filled with plants, trees, and climbing structures, mirroring the monkeys’ rainforest environment. Zoo director Will Dorrell says the monkeys will be conservation ambassadors, helping educate visitors about the importance of rainforest conservation. 

    Squirrel monkeys are native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, living in large, complex social groups. While not currently endangered, they are considered vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to threats like deforestation in the Amazon and poaching for the illegal pet trade. Modern zoos help address these threats by providing educational platforms and naturalistic habitats that engage the public in protecting species. 

Squirrel monkeys are showing a decline in the wild due to poaching for the illegal pet trade

    Hoo Zoo’s new squirrel monkey family underscores the evolving role of modern zoos as conservation spaces and public education hubs, rather than mere entertainment venues. These primates now serve as ambassadors for their species, highlighting zoos’ ethical responsibility to replicate natural habitats and educate visitors about threats like habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. Exposure to charismatic animals like squirrel monkeys can inspire empathy and build public support for broader conservation efforts. This context also raises important questions such as whether more zoos prioritize habitat replication and conservation messaging and how zoos can balance entertainment value with meaningful engagement in conservation efforts.

References:
Lawson, E. (2025, Feb 1). Monkeys make 250 mile journey to new home. BCC. 
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cew5jp9jx5yo 





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