A family of monkeys has been saved by Southend’s Sea Life Adventure.

The crab eating macaques were due to be destroyed at an Italian laboratory but will now become a popular attraction at a new wildlife enclosure within the attraction.

The WILD enclosure will be their new home when they arrive from a Belgium animal rescue centre who took on the 18 animals on a temporary basis, before helping them find a permanent home.

Managing director Marc Miller, from Sea Life Adventure and Wild’s owners, the Stockvale Group, said: “Because our new WILD attraction has previously rehomed slender-tailed meerkats and three giant African spurred tortoises, and of course Sea Life Adventure is well known for rescuing all manner of aquatic creatures, including crocodiles and lobsters, we have a reputation as a company that likes to help save vulnerable animals.

“Natuurhulpcentrum [the Belgian centre] told us they could only take care of the macaques for a limited time, due to a lack of resources.

“So it has been a race against time for us to draw up plans for a purpose-built enclosure, secure the necessary planning permission and create the necessary, specialist roles to look after the macaques when they arrive.

“It was all a bit fraught, as we – quite rightly – had to meet stringent health and safety and animal welfare requirements.

“Now that we’ve done that, the project is full steam ahead.”

The new enclosure is being constructed as part of the recently opened WILD site.

To give the macaques plenty of room to roam, the new attraction will be five metres high and more than thirty metres long, creating a new landmark for the seafront.

Mr Miller added: “We have the best experts in the world guiding us, including specialists from the world-renowned International Zoo Veterinary Group, who are also assisting us with the project.

“When it is complete, the new enclosure will have all the creature comforts a macaque could want.”

Set to open towards the end of summer, the WILD macaque centre will be a heart-warming ending to a very sad tale.

Whilst in Italy, the group had been used for breeding, medical testing, kept in confined conditions and tattooed with serial numbers.

Now they will have space to play and monkey around to their hearts content.

They can also expect a specially-prepared diet, complete with plentiful fresh vegetables every day and fruit treats.

Nicki Meyn has been appointed to the role of curator, bringing with her years of expertise gained at Tropical Wings Zoo, near South Woodham Ferrers.

She said: “I was really excited to join the team at Sea Life Adventure and couldn’t be more excited to be able to offer a home to the crab eating macaques, who are being rescued from a rather sad situation.

“We can’t wait to bring the family to Southend and introduce them to their new enclosure, so we can spoil them like they deserve and give them their forever home.”