Great Days Out

Endangered species baby boom at Paignton Zoo (news)

16th December 2009

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is experiencing a winter baby boom.

Several primate species have recently given birth, providing an important boost to the charity’s crucial work of breeding endangered species.

A female king colobus monkey was born on November 25. Named Fria, pictured bottom, her parents are Ivy and Martin.

The species is officially rated as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

There is a small zoo population - only five other zoos in Europe have them in their collections. King colobus are born white with black around the eyes, grey tails and black hands.

Paignton Zoo has successfully bred the species before and several animals have gone on to breed at other collections including Blackpool Zoo, Marwell Zoo and Africa Alive in Suffolk.

Emperor tamarin twins were born on November 2 to mother Geta and father Titus.

The pair came to Paignton Zoo in 2006 when Monkey Heights opened and had their first offspring in 2007. These two births mean they have had a total of eight youngsters. At this stage it is impossible to say what sex they are. This small, endangered South American primate often gives birth to twins.

A Diana monkey was born on December 7. The youngster, which has yet to be named or sexed, is the fourth born to Charlie and female Kasia.

The species is listed as vulnerable in the wild, where they are often seen together with king colobus.

The International Stud Book and EEP are run by Edinburgh Zoo. The Europe-wide programme for breeding Diana monkeys is one of the most successful for an endangered primate.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park director of operations and curator of mammals Neil Bemment told WOSW: “That winning combination of endearing youngsters and important conservation breeding successes is very satisfying.

“The king colobus birth is particularly significant as there is a small zoo population that needs to grow.

“While the burst of pre-Christmas births is just coincidence, it is tribute to our high standards of husbandry, good enclosure design and dedicated and well-trained keeping staff.”

While such births don’t automatically mean extra work for keepers unless they have to be hand-reared, staff do like to keep a close eye on new arrivals.

In addition, a female Sulawesi crested black macaque was born on October 26 to mother Anneke and father Tyrone. She has been named Poppy, pictured top.

The species is listed by the IUCN as critically endangered. Paignton Zoo is supporting conservation work on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi through its Selamatkan Yaki programme.

For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring (01803) 697500.

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