Drusillas Zoo Park

The Drusilla’s Park team were looking to expand the zoo with their “most ambitious and largest enclosure project to date”, a state-of-the-art new enclosure for the Colobus monkeys.  Base came up with a solution to maximise the living space for the monkeys, including large posts to allow the monkeys to swing freely and netting around existing trees to keep the habitat natural and authentic.  

Colobus monkeys, known for their size and agility, require a spacious and durable enclosure. To meet these needs, our expert animal enclosure team designed a robust structure featuring steel posts and high-tensile stainless steel web netting. This design ensures long-term durability, provides excellent visibility for visitors, and safeguards the monkeys from external wildlife.

One of the primary challenges of this project was interfacing the web netting with the existing trees within the enclosure’s perimeter. Our bespoke solution included a specialized finishing detail that accommodates the trees’ natural growth and movement, preventing damage to the netting while ensuring the monkeys remain secure. The perimeter interface was expertly crafted, with an additional closure net secured to surrounding structures to eliminate any risk of escape, while also maintaining a clean and aesthetically pleasing appearance.

We designed, manufactured and installed a bespoke enclosure using high-tensile stainless steel webnet supported by a series of large steel posts.

The layout was developed to maximise usable volume, allowing the monkeys to swing freely between elevated points. Critically, the enclosure was designed to integrate with existing trees, wrapping the mesh around trunks and branches to preserve the natural environment.

To address movement and long-term growth, we developed a specialised interface detail that accommodates the trees’ natural motion, preventing damage to the mesh while maintaining enclosure integrity. Additional closure netting was carefully integrated at the perimeter to ensure safety without introducing visual clutter.

The completed enclosure delivers a significant step forward in primate habitat design, providing an expansive and enriching environment that supports natural behaviours such as climbing, swinging and social interaction.

For visitors, the lightweight mesh system creates clear, uninterrupted views into the enclosure, enhancing engagement while maintaining safety and durability. The structure feels open and natural, reinforcing the connection between the animals and their environment.

The result is a carefully engineered solution that balances welfare, performance and experience, demonstrating how tensile and mesh systems can be used to create habitats that are both highly functional and deeply rooted in their surroundings.