Socking it to the primates

During an animal inspection visit to the zoo, Mackenzie noticed that while all the animals looked healthy and well-fed, the primates seemed very depressed and bored because of the lack of stimulation in their enclosures.

“There were about one hundred primates at the zoo,” Mackenzie said. “That includes monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees and they were all extremely bored.” Mackenzie explained that while she was opposed to zoos in general, she realised that animal confinement was here to stay, so the least the public could do was to ensure the animals have some form of enrichment.

Mackenzie decided that something had to be done for the primates, and started collecting socks and empty bottles to fill with edible items for the primates to play with. She calls the project Sock-it-to-me.

Mackenzie is encouraging the public and especially school pupils to get involved with the project by donating socks and empty plastic bottles of varying sizes. Also she is requesting uncooked rice, noodles and pasta, dried fruit, monkey nuts, sunflower seeds, mielies, popped popcorn and popcorn seeds, honey and pine cones. Mackenzie fills the socks with the dry items and ties the ends to make a soft beanbag-like toy which the primates can throw around. She also fills the plastic bottles with the dry items to hang in the primates’ cages or give to them as toys to engage their five senses simultaneously. “Primates particularly love the pine cones dipped in honey,” Mackenzie said. “It occupies them for hours and honey is really good for them.”

While Mackenzie is very grateful for the donations she’s already received, she would like the Fourways community to get involved, not only by donating items but also by actually creating the toys for the primates.

Details: 083 659 3727