A rare monkey has been born at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park. The cherry-crowned mangabey was born in the small hours of Sunday 10th May.
The male, as yet un-named, baby has already been photographed out and about with father Yengo, mother Kibibi and older brother Kumba.
This is a forest primate of coastal, swamp, mangrove and tropical West Africa. It lives in large groups of up to 25 individuals made up of one male with the females arranged in a heirarchy. The males are larger than the females and leave the group when they reach maturity. The gestation period is 5 to 6 months, after which a single baby is born.
The species is threatened by deforestation and the bushmeat trade. It is present in a number of protected areas, including the Omo Forest Reserve in Nigeria, where Paignton Zoo supports a conservation project. Also, it is listed on Appendix II of CITES and on Class B of the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring 0844 474 2222.
