Chuckle-tastic Grand Opening of Lemur Heights a Great Success

Star of Chucklevision, Barry Elliott (better known as Barry Chuckle) officially opened Lemur Heights, a state of the art walk-through Lemur exhibit, at Sheffield’s Tropical Butterfly House on Saturday 6^th July. Crowds of visitors, members of the press and staff at the zoo gathered to see the popular television and stage personality cut the red ribbon at the doors of the enclosure and unveil a commemorative plaque, before exploring the new attraction. The exhibit incorporates a spacious, glass-fronted, indoor courtyard, leading to an attractive outdoor area where the lemurs are free to wander amongst guests and leap around the trees. Zoo Curator and Manager, Andrew Reeve, is very proud of the finished result after months of construction; “We believe we have created the leading Lemur exhibit in Britain; thanks to the careful planning of the enclosure with the needs of the lemurs as priority, whilst also ensuring an unforgettable experience for the public.” Heather Scott, Presenters Team Leader, helped with some of the arrangements for the big day and is thrilled with how it went; “Visitors of all ages were excited to have their photos taken with Mr. Chuckle and say hello (as were all of the staff!) and Barry was on top form when he took the microphone to introduce Lemur Heights before cutting the red ribbon and got everyone in the mood with some signature Chucklebrother catchphrases! It was a wonderful atmosphere and a great way to celebrate the completion of one of our biggest ever projects.” Barry Chuckle spent the whole afternoon at the popular wildlife attraction and told staff that he enjoyed it so much, he would visit again later this month with his family. He was presented with a VIP Pass, allowing unlimited free entry to the centre for him and his guests, as a thank you for opening the new attraction, and staff hope that he will become a regular visitor! Lemur Heights is home to Ring-tailed Lemurs and Red-ruffed Lemurs, which are part of a breeding programme to ensure a sustainable captive population. Both species are under threat in their natural habitat in Madagascar due to deforestation and hunting; and staff at the Tropical Butterfly House have taken the opportunity of the new attraction to raise interest in helping wild lemurs. Since Easter, the park has raised almost £1700 for the Madagascar Fauna Group, helping to support research and conservation projects for over one hundred different species of lemur. The Tropical Butterfly House is open daily, year round, and is located just 5 minutes from the M1, junction 31. Visit www.butterflyhouse.co.uk to plan your visit. For listings of forthcoming events in Nottinghamshire click here!