Lemurs, gibbons, chimpanzees, tamarins and orangutans are some of Lisbon Zoo’s primate species which will be celebrated throughout the weekend through environmental enrichment moments and encounters with biologists.
 
On September the 1st World Primate Day is celebrated. To mark the date, Lisbon Zoo has prepared a set of activities which will challenge the visitors and share curiosities about this vast group of animals.  
 
Opposable thumbs, which allow the use of tools and fingerprints that differentiate individuals from each other, are two of the features that distinguish primates from other mammals. The majority of them live the rainforests of America, Africa and Asia, where their arboreal acestors originate, with man being the only primate present in all continents.  
 
Did you know that the chimpanzee shares 98% of its DNA with the human species? And that in the marmoset family it is the males responsability to carry and take care of the offspring? Discover these and other curiosities this weekend with our Biologists and take part in the environmental enrichment moments, where you will have the chance to observe the animals natural behaviours while they search for food, explore the facilities and even work on the relations among groups or defend their territory.
 
Since the weekend is dedicated to primates, visitors will also be challenged to solve an environmental enrichment puzzle through a replica of an enrichment structure located at the chimpanzees facility. – “A Chimp takes a few minutes to solve this task. How long do you take?” This structure, made up of a wooden box with holes, aims to simulate termite hunting in the wild. To get to the food, the animal, just like it would happen in nature, has to search for or build the ideal tool to take the food to the end of the box circuit, at which point it can feed.
 
All of us add to the Planet’s biodiversity and have a responsability, through our daily actions, to contribute to nature conservation and a sustainable future. Visit Lisbon Zoo on this World Primate Day and get to know the variety of shapes, colours and sizes of the different species that make up this vast order of which we are a part and find out how can you help to their conservation.