Zoo keepers welcome new baby monkey

Oct 16 2012

Keepers at Edinburgh Zoo are celebrating the arrival of a baby monkey - but they have been unable to give the newborn a name because of its protective mother.

At just over three weeks old, the L'Hoest's monkey is still snuggled firmly into mum Tumbili and the zoo has not established if the primate is a boy or girl yet.

The pair are likely to be inseparable for a few months and it will not be until the little one starts to venture off on its own that keepers can identify its gender and choose a name.

Mum and dad, Tumbili and Kizizi, welcomed their second baby at the end of September since being introduced to each other in 2010.

Primate keeper Lorna Hughes said: "Every new arrival at the zoo is fantastic news for us and the particular species, and our new born L'Hoest's monkey is no exception. At Edinburgh Zoo we manage the European breeding programme for these impressive primates, helping them to survive and thrive.

"Edinburgh Zoo is currently home to this family group as well as another pair of L'Hoest's monkeys. As a group they are extremely close and have a great dynamic together. They all seem to be interested in the newborn baby.

However, mum Tumbili is still extremely protective so it will be a while before he or she meets the rest of the group.

Hughes added: "It's always exciting to see the babies grow and take their first few swings through the enclosure. It's a great group and we're sure this little one will fit in perfectly."

Natives to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, these primates can be found living in a variety of different habitats, from mountain slopes to wetlands. Endangered in the wild, they are hunted for bushmeat and find their habitats under threat due to deforestation.

Easily identifiable due to their unusual large orange eyes and characteristic white beard, they live in extremely close-knit groups and can often be spotted grooming one another - which helps reinforce the strong bonds.