Drusillas Zoo welcome new baby monkey for the first time in a decade
The zoo have announced the arrival of the Goeldi monkey
A baby Goeldi monkey has been born at Drusillas Zoo for the first time in a decade.
It is hoped this will be a boost for conservation efforts for the species, currently classified as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN red list.
The tiny babe was born on 29th March, to parents Penelope and Neville.
Drusillas Head Keeper, Gemma Romanis, said,
"The arrival of the Goeldi’s monkey baby is very exciting for Drusillas as we have been working towards breeding this vulnerable species for some time.
"The new baby was expected, as Penelope was showing signs of pregnancy, but that doesn’t make it any less special - this is our first birth of this vulnerable primate for ten years!
"Goeldi’s monkeys are inquisitive in nature, vulnerable in the wild, and are a completely unique species. It will be fascinating to observe their behaviour as a family group and see which parent the new babe takes after!
"The little one is thriving, and we’re thrilled with how well Penelope and Neville are getting on as first-time parents."
The cute infant can be hard to spot because of the Goeldi's monkey characteristic 'cape’ of lush, thick hair on their neck and back, which the fluffy youngster blends right into.
Goeldi’s monkeys are relatively small primates, measuring just 21-23cm - not including their tails, which can be 25-30cm long - and their thick, black coats, which can make them look much larger than they are.
They live in dense rainforest vegetation in northwest South America, but the species has become vulnerable, mainly due to the illegal pet trade and deforestation.
With this new arrival, Drusillas Park now has three Goeldi’s monkeys located at the front of the Zoo.
They are yet to confirm the gender of the baby but are asking the public for help with naming the new arrival.