Park animal aren't wild about snow (From Oxford Mail)

Park animal aren't wild about snow

10:00am Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News

THESE red bellied lemurs were two of the animals relieved to be free of the snow at Cotswold Wildlife Park yesterday.

The Burford park opened to visitors yesterday after nine days of being shut because of snow, ice and freezing conditions.

Red bellied lemurs are found in the wild in Madagascar.

Deputy head of primates Hayley Rothwell, 34, pictured, said it was strange having no visitors at the park, which is usually only ever closed on Christmas Day.

She said: “It’s the longest stretch I’ve known it to be closed for, and I have been here four years now.

“The animals really don’t like the snow and stay indoors where it is heated. That doesn’t make for very good viewing but it was for safety too.

“The meerkats have to be locked in in case the snow builds up and they can escape, and everyone assumes the penguins love the snow but ours are Humbordt penguins from South America. They actually prefer the warmth.”