Sussex wildlife park welcomes new endangered baby monkey
Keepers are looking to find a name for their new addition
Zookeepers in Sussex are welcoming the arrival of their newest zoo born - a crticially endangered monkey.
The Sulawesi crested macaque was born on June 22nd to mum Kera and dad Moteck at Drusillas Park near Alfriston.
The creature, whose creature has not yet been determined, has been described as 'perfectly health, happy and headstrong' as it starts to brave life outside of the protective hold of its mother.
Black crested macaques are known for their jet black hair, striking amber eyes, and bright pink bottoms - although the youngest member of the macaque troop will not develop these physical attributes for some months.
Head Zookeeper, Gemma Romanis, said:
“We are chuffed to bits to confirm that both mum and baby are making excellent progress, and we are starting to see baby out and about bravely exploring.
"Kera is a brilliant mother; she was a total natural with her first born, Mango – who was born at Drusillas three years ago - and she’s proving herself once again with the new little one.
"We are really proud of Moteck too; it is great to see him getting really stuck in as a dad again.”
The Sulawesi black crested macaque is categorised as critically endangered in the wild and its population has declined by 80% over the last 40 years.
The principal threat to their survival is over-hunting for meat. In Indonesia the macaque is considered a delicacy, and is often served for special occasions.
Deforestation is another major threat to the species, with large areas of their habitat now being cleared for coconut plantations, garden plots and roads.
Gemma Romanis added:
“As well as being totally adorable, the cause for celebration is that much more when we successfully breed a critically endangered species at Drusillas.
"The healthy arrival of this pair’s second baby provides a crucial boost for the macaque population, and we’re all really proud to play our part in keeping this beautiful primate from extinction.”
Visitors are now being asked to find a name for their new arrival - as they did for their sibling Mango back in 2018.
Keepers are asking for suggestions on social media, saying another fruity name may work well.
“Our visitors chose Mango’s name back in 2018, so we’d like to carry on the tradition and call on our supporters to find a name for his sibling” Gemma continued, “we haven’t confirmed the sex of the baby yet, so perhaps another ‘fruity’ name would work well!”
Details of how to add your suggestion can be found on the Drusillas Park Facebook page.