Zookeepers 'thrilled' at birth of rare Amazonian monkey at BCA Zoo

Zookeepers say they are ‘thrilled’ at the arrival of a rare newborn monkey as part of conservation efforts at Berkshire College of Agriculture.

The one-month-old Goeldi's monkey, named after the Swiss naturalist Emil August Goeldi, was born at the BCA Zoo, to parents Blue and Kalara.

The tiny newborn arrived as part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), a collaborative effort across European zoos and aquariums, to maintain genetically healthy and sustainable populations of threatened species.

Animal centre and education manager Sarah Parbery said the baby monkey was doing ‘really well’ since its arrival on Saturday, July 12.

"We are thrilled to welcome this little one,” she added.

“Every birth within the EEP is a huge step forward for conservation, and we’re proud to contribute to the protection of such a unique species.”

Goeldi's monkeys are small primates native to the upper Amazon rainforest, particularly the dense undergrowth, and are known for their distinctive dark fur and expressive eyes.

They can jump as far as one end of a tennis court to the other and are currently the only known tropical monkey to feed on mushrooms during the dry season.

Unlike most other small monkeys, Goeldi's monkeys typically give birth to one baby at a time and live in groups of up to 10, including a breeding pair and their offspring.

Goeldi's monkeys are classified as vulnerable in the wild due to habitat loss and deforestation, and relatively low birth rates make them ‘notoriously elusive’, so new births are ‘incredibly exciting’, the zoo said. 

Coordinated breeding, by managing breeding pairs and sharing expertise through the EEP, helps safeguard the species’ future amid declining numbers.

Each new arrival marks a success in the ongoing conservation of the species and a valuable contribution to its long-term survival.

After the male and female Goeldi's monkeys, Blue and Kalara, had a successful breeding just over a month ago, the healthy newborn has started to explore on its own.

The one-month-old baby is reported to be healthy and is already clinging tightly to its mother, a strong sign of positive early development.

Zookeepers don’t have a weight for the baby as it is currently attached to its mother, but the animal could reach up to 600 grams.

The family of three Goeldi's monkeys are now living alongside Cotton-top tamarins on site.

“The youngster is doing really well, and visitors may soon be able to catch a glimpse of it riding on its mother’s back,” said Sarah.

A zoo spokesperson said the new baby will be assessed in six months to identify its gender and to be microchipped.

Visitors to BCA Zoo can look forward to meeting the new arrival and learning more about the importance of species and habitat conservation.

For more information on booking tickets, visit the website https://zoo.bca.ac.uk/