THE SOUTH AMERICAN ANIMALS

Llama Closely related to the Camel, Llama were the beasts of burden of pre-European South American society. While used mainly as pack animals capable of carrying 40 to 50 kg over difficult terrain, they also provided wool and meat.

Spider Monkeys Pride of place in our Americas collection goes to our Mexican Spider Monkeys. This subspecies is found in the rainforests of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Its natural habitat is high in the canopy of the rainforest. Like most of the tropical primates, the Spider Monkey has suffered through habitat destruction and hunting pressure. In the wild, Spider Monkeys live in loosely organised family groups of up to 30, feeding in the canopy on fruits, nuts and vegetation. They prefer undisturbed habitat and like all primates they are slow to mature and breed, so populations recover slowly from human impact. Like many new world monkeys, the Spider Monkey has a prehensile tail which it uses to great effect. Orana Park has what is believed to be the largest group of Spider Monkeys in captivity. The fact that these monkeys breed regularly suggests that they have adapted well to their new temperate climate home. Spider Monkeys are highly social animals and can often be seen grooming one another.