The new squirrel monkey house in the Curraghs Wildlife Park, Ballaugh, was officially opened today (Friday). The Hon David Cretney MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure, performed the opening of the new ?12,000 chalet-style house in the Flooded Forest of the Amazon area of the Park. He said: ‘The Department is grateful to the Friends of the Wildlife Park for contributing 50% of the cost of building the new squirrel monkey house. It provides an enlarged indoor space measuring 5.2m metres square, around six times the size of their old indoor enclosure. ‘The Wildlife Park has had considerable success with breeding the species since they were introduced to the Park in the 1990s. Now the Park has been recommended by the European Stud Book to breed them up in order that groups of females can be provided to other European collections. A new breeding male has been introduced to the collection every few years and it means that the Wildlife Park squirrel monkeys are an underrepresented genetic line within the European population.’ The Minister added: ‘They are very active throughout the day and delight visitors with their antics, both on the island and in their new house.’ Squirrel monkeys are one of the more insectivorous species and can be seen catching their own midges on the island. They also eat fruit and vegetables. Roy Howarth, Chairman of the Friends, joined the Minister at the opening. He said: ‘The Friends of the Wildlife Park are pleased to have been able to contribute towards the cost of building the enlarged indoor space for the squirrel monkeys. Our contributions are both practical, in terms of helping to maintain the grounds, and financial in raising funds to assist with improvements to the enclosures. We are currently appealing for more volunteers to join us, and hope the excellence of recent enhancements made in the Park will encourage new people to join us.’ Details of the volunteer scheme can be found here: http://www.gov.im/dccl/ViewNews.gov?page=lib/news/wildlife/friendsofthewild.xml&menuid=11570 ENDS