LONGLEAT Safari Park will witness some monkeying around this February half-term as it marks the start of the Chinese New Year.

To celebrate the start of the Year of the Monkey on Monday, the park’s macaque monkeys will be immortalised by a giant wooden sculpture, which will take pride of place in their drive-through enclosure.

The statue will be cut from a single section of coast redwood tree from the Longleat forestry, which will be carved by chainsaw and will stand more than two metres tall.

The park, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will also display The Legend of the Monkey King illuminated tableau, which was part of Longleat’s Festival of Light.

Also on show will be 12 Chinese zodiac lanterns, known as Sheng Xiao, which is on a 12-year cycle and are represented by an animal including a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The Monkey is the ninth sign of the Chinese zodiac and is characterised by curiosity, mischievousness and cleverness.

Every vehicle which drives through the Safari Park over the half-term period will also receive a free ‘I Survived the Monkeys’ car sticker.