News / Animals
Baby drill monkey born at Bristol Zoo
Bristol Zoo is celebrating after the arrival of a new drill monkey, one of Africa’s most endangered primates.
Now three weeks old, the baby – thought to be a girl – is the fourth of the primates to be born in Bristol and weighs approximately 800g (1.7lbs). Mum Bimba and dad Rourke are said to be settling into parenthood seamlessly.
“Bimba is proving to be a brilliant mum,” says mammal team leader Emily Pugh.
“This is her first surviving baby after her two previous babies died in childbirth, so it is a very special baby and she is doing a fantastic job of looking after it.
is needed now More than ever
“Rourke is proving to be a very attentive and protective father, shielding the baby from the curious advances of the young drill who is very interested in the baby. This is exactly the kind of behaviour a father should be displaying and it is very encouraging and positive for the group dynamic.”
In the wild, drills live in the lowland and coastal forests of Western Africa – in the countries of Cameroon, Nigeria and on the coastal island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea.
Their population has declined by 50 per cent over the past 30 years and is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild, due to hunting, habitat destruction and human development.
There are now thought to be fewer than 3,000 left in their native habitat and only 85 in 20 zoos.
Read more: Endangered pygmy hippo born at Bristol Zoo
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