CUTE ALERT! Two new arrivals at Dorset's Monkey World
A pair of baby woolly monkeys have been born there
Two very rare baby woolly monkeys have been born at Dorset's Monkey World.
The little primates have arrived as part of the last group of monkeys of their species still breeding in captivity.
Little boy Levi has been born to mother Xingu, and a matter of days later, Xingu also became a grandmother when her daughter Olivia gave birth to a girl named Bonita.
The primate care team at Monkey World have been closely monitoring both mums and babies, with all doing very well.
The tiny infants weigh approximately 400 grams at birth and are completely reliant on their mums for food, heat, transport, and care.
These two little ones are the 31st and 32nd woolly monkeys born at Monkey World over the years.
Park Director Dr Alison Cronin, who has worked with these rare primates for more than 25 years, is delighted that the mothers are caring for her own young:
“Monkey World is now home to 26 woolly monkeys that live in four different groups at the park. Sadly, they do not do well in captivity and have died off in zoos and rescue centres in UK and around the globe. At Monkey World we are working very hard to identify the best way to care for these vulnerable monkeys so that we can help rescue centres in-situ in Columbia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru to rehabilitate those individuals that are confiscated from the black market trade."