VIDEO: Up close and personal with Woodside’s lemurs!

But when I went into the black and white ruffed lemur enclosure I have to admit that I did wonder for a moment if I had agreed to feed myself to the lions.

For the lemurs were hungry, and not at all afraid to climb all over me to get to the raisins in my hand.

But after a crazy few moments of digging out the food they craved and offering it to them, it was fantastic to be so close to such interesting creatures.

Keeper Val Miller summed it up well: “Everything for the first time can make people a bit scared but once they are in, some customers don’t want to come back out because they enjoy it so much.

“Some customers don’t know they can be in with the animals.”

And it is certainly something I would recommend. I was amazed at how much a lemur’s hand resembles that of a human, with tiny perfectly formed fingers just like a toddler, and fingernails to boot.

I could see each of their miniature triangular teeth and felt their heavy weight as they hung from my arms.

I learned about their diet – each of the primates at Woodside have a special food plan, with fruit, vegetables, boiled eggs and even yoghurts on the daily menu.

And their vitamin munch rings look just like loops of cereal, although perhaps not the same flavour.

Val said: “Some of the lemurs don’t like tomatoes. When you feed them you notice what they like and what they don’t like. So I just give them a little bit more of what they really like.”

The ringtail lemurs were very different to their ruffed counterparts – almost a bit more civilised.

“They will not climb on you they will just eat from your hands,” said Val. “They are selfish. They will hold on to your hand for as long as you have food.”

But it was the curious squirrel monkeys that I liked the most – especially the one who happily sat on my left shoulder and posed for a photograph.

“These are the best with customers,” said Val. “Sometimes when you are working they will take a pen out of your pocket or search your pockets for things.

“They love to pull your hair. Everything that you are doing they try to look at. They are a bit inquisitive.”

Val’s endless knowledge and obvious passion for his small charges is infectious.

He told me: “Working with them is excellent. It is great. It is like they are a part of you. Even if we are on holiday we are thinking about them, wondering if they are all right. We look forward to seeing them every day.”

And I can understand why.

>To find out more about the Meet The Keeper Experiences visit www.woodsidefarm.co.uk

Prices start at £40 for children and £70 for adults.

>For a video of Laura Kempsell’s Meet The Primates experience visit our websites www.lutontoday.co.uk or www.dunstabletoday.co.uk

>To find out more about the Meet The Keeper Experiences visit www.woodsidefarm.co.uk

Prices start at £40 for children and £70 for adults.