The young visitors came on three separate days in June and July and were able to observe the resident orangutans, chimpanzees, capuchins and more as well as experience fun at the centre’s new Great Ape Play Area.

Nearly 200 children from Bethany School in Bournemouth, Beaucroft School in Wimborne and Linwood School campuses in Bournemouth and Poole, arrived at Monkey World. It was raining, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm and excitement of the children.

The children loved playing in the playground

To begin with, the apes were not very evident and the majority of the groups made their way to the exciting new play area. What fun they had there swinging, climbing and jumping and, of course, the rain eased and gradually it stopped. After an early picnic lunch, the children went in small groups to observe the apes. There was plenty to see.

The orangutans were busy eating tomatoes and the chimpanzees were climbing about on the apparatus in their spacious enclosures. One large chimpanzee showed off his dominance display to the maintenance men repairing a visitor fence – he treated them to loud hoots and vocalisations to tell them who was boss as they drove in the fence posts. When things had quietened, he settled again and watched as our groups of Variety children observed him. The children also watched woolly monkeys climbing, gibbons leaping about and many smaller monkeys enjoying their day. On the two previous visits in June, more pupils from Linwood and St Clements school children enjoyed similarly successful days watching the antics of the resident apes.

The new playground provided much entertainment while the monkeys sheltered from the rain

The majority of the children travelled in Laguna coaches, but six Variety Sunshine Coaches were also evident in the car park. The Monkey World days were organised by Variety Wessex and were part of Variety, the Children’s Charity Great Days Out scheme that aims to give disadvantaged children positive memories.

Frances Cornelius, chair of Variety Wessex said:

Thank you Monkey World for once again giving these deserving children fascinating and most enjoyable days to remember. Thank you Gill and Laguna for your safe and efficient coach travel and Variety Wessex committee members Judy and Jenny for accompanying the school groups. The Monkey World trips were funded from pantomime collections last Christmas. Thank you the Variety Committee members and Krazy Kev for attending the collections and the generous theatre goers for donating.