The new enclosure is within the walled garden at Durrell (00840782)

VISITORS to Durrell wildlife park can now experience what life is like in a Madagascan forest.

The Kirindy Forest exhibit was officially opened on Thursday. It includes a walk-through aviary which houses birds which are so rare that they are only found in one part of Madagascar. Among the birds are a pair of hamerkop herons, which build some of the largest nests in the world.

All of the birds in the exhibit are from captive breeding programmes. The exhibit, which with the help of local and Madagascan Durrell staff mirrors the natural environment, features birds and animals found in and around the Menabe dry western forest of Madagascar, between Morondava and Tsiribihina.

As members of the public wander around the enclosure they will have clear views of red-fronted brown lemurs and ring-tailed lemurs, giant jumping rats, narrow-striped mongooses, and an aye-aye.

The exhibit was officially opened by former trust director Jeremy Mallinson, who worked alongside zoo founder Gerald Durrell for many years.