Drusillas Park in Alfriston has opted for Optex Europe's detectors on the advice of the systems specialist Haven Security, following a spate of thefts from zoos last year, including the disappearance of groups of endangered Geoffroy's marmosets and silvery marmosets from Drusillas Park.

Peter Moon, estate manager for Drusillas Park explains: "In recent years small zoos have become the target for thieves - often stealing animals to order. The rare primates were thankfully recovered and returned, but these events convinced us we needed more reliable systems in place to detect would-be intruders. We were already working with Haven Security at the time, and they recommended that we try Optex Europe's detectors."

"The system we now have installed is concentrated in specific areas where the animals are kept and includes low level detectors to protect the pathways, entrances and exits of the enclosures and high-level detectors to monitor the wider perimeter," he continues.

"The system is proving to be very reliable and we haven't experienced any false alarms. Indeed the only time an alarm has been triggered so far was for an early morning food delivery to one of the cafes! Despite being unwanted, it did at least prove that the system is working efficiently. We are very pleased with the system and have plans to extend it to cover more areas," he adds.

The zoo makes maximum use of two of Optex Europe's detector technologies - the VX402, a highly-reliable product often used for short range applications in harsh, residential and commercial environments - and Redwave detectors, part of the Redwallrange.

The patented VX402 Series detectors - part of the Boundary Guard range - employ a proven multiple detection pattern technology, also used in the Redwave devices, that creates two discrete detection areas so that only when an intruder is detected in both areas is an alarm output provided. The detection patterns can be easily adjusted to increase/decrease the detection range, and effectively 'personalise' the installation around the customer's requirements.

The detectors, which are wire-free, also utilise patented Double Conductive Shielding of the Pyroelectric Element, which is in effect a double filtering and shielding of visible light and RFI such that only infrared energy reaches the Pyroelectric Elements.

"This feature - which is also proven in Optex Europe's Redwall range of external detectors - further improves the reliability of the detector by reducing the likelihood of false alarms," explains Paul Nicholas of Optex Europe.

"Installers effectively now have a product that they can use outdoors that provides the same high-performance detection they have come to expect from the detectors they use inside their homes."

The VX 402 is available in three models including hardwire models with integrated voice warning, each with an adjustable detection pattern of 12 metres x 12 metres. The detection pattern of 90 degrees with 12 metre range can be rotated through 180 degrees allowing flexible mounting of the unit.

Drusillas Park covers 15 acres and it is widely regarded as the best small zoo in the UK. Residents include Meerkats, Penguins, Monkeys, Bats, Lemurs, Beavers, Otters, Gibbons and Owls along with Petworld and a host of creepy crawlies. Other attractions include Thomas the Tank Engine train ride, Amazon Adventure, Panning for Gold, Adventure Golf the Discovery Centre and Wacky Workshop. New for 2008 is a Walk-through Lemur enclosure and a new outdoor play area called 'Go Bananas' designed specifically for little monkeys!

"There is a huge emphasis on visitor participation within the zoo and even the youngest of visitors are catered for with low-level viewing and imaginative animal displays so they can meet a wide range of animals from all over the world, living in cleverly designed naturalistic settings," Peter Moon concludes.