The zoo has built a new outdoor enclosure for the golden yellow lion monkeys in Grzimekhaus. This is good for the sociable animals, who can now sunbathe and experience new stimuli. At the same time, the small but beautiful outdoor enclosure revitalizes an area where no animals were previously seen.
Although the indoor enclosure in the Grzimek House is large and the golden lion monkeys have plenty of room to move, they previously lacked access to an outdoor area. The zoo has remedied this by creating an enclosure area of about 42 cubic meters on the outside of the Grzimek House. "This is not only nice for the animals, but also for the visitors," emphasises Head of Culture Dr. Ina Hartwig, "because in the area between the Grzimek House and the Exotarium there was previously no animal to be seen. The lion monkeys with their charming liveliness enhance the entire square."
The construction made of galvanized steel and an eight-meter-long glass front is planted and equipped with climbing facilities. It initially houses a group of three golden yellow lion monkeys. In the indoor enclosure, the animals share the treetop region with a two-fingered sloth. The sloth is currently busy raising young, but will also be able to use the outdoor enclosure in due course.
In the indoor area of the Grzimek House, UV light-transmissive double web panels and opening ceiling windows in the enclosures provide the necessary supply of daylight and fresh air for the animals. "But now the little marmosets can really bask in the sun, and they experience many additional stimuli, for example, from sounds, birds and the weather," said Zoo Director Dr. Miguel Casares, pleased with the new outdoor enclosure, which was realized according to his designs and will later be supplemented by another part.
The golden yellow lion monkeys, native to a rainforest area of Brazil, grow to about 34 cm and weigh 380 to 800 grams. They owe their name to their golden yellow fur and lion-like mane. The species, which was once severely endangered in the wild, was saved by a reintroduction project. In the early 1970s, the population in the wild had dropped to about 200 individuals.
The reintroduction of the golden lion monkeys in Brazil is considered one of the most successful reintroduction projects in the world and was supported by the Frankfurt Zoological Society (ZGF) for over 20 years. Under the leadership of the National Zoo in Washington, 140 zoos joined forces and started an international breeding program. Frankfurt Zoo was also involved. A stock of more than 1,700 animals has developed from the former 153 reintroduced zoo animals that were brought to Brazil from all over the world. Since 2000, therefore, no more lion monkeys have had to be reintroduced into the wild
