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Chester Zoo celebrate the birth of rare spider monkey

September 26, 2021

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By Editor

The team at Chester Zoo have been celebrating the birth of a rare spider monkey, a species which is at risk of extinction.

The rare baby primate, a Colombian black-headed spider monkey, has been spotted being cradled in the arms of experienced mum, Kiara (11).

Colombian black-headed spider monkeys are considered vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and are at risk of extinction, with more than a quarter of its population estimated to have been lost in just the last half a century.

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Chester Zoo celebrate the birth of rare spider monkey

The South American primates are found mainly in Colombia and Panama where they are being increasingly threatened by hunting, illegal trafficking and the destruction of their tropical rainforest habitat.

Conservationists say the latest arrival at the zoo is an important boost to the international breeding programme, which is working to protect the species.

Dr Nick Davis, Deputy Curator of Mammals and primatology expert at the zoo, said:

“Colombian black-headed spider monkeys are vulnerable to extinction and so Kiara’s precious newcomer is a great addition to the international breeding programme for the species.

“It’s fantastic to see Kiara cradle her new baby closely – she’s an experienced mum so has slipped right back into motherhood. The infant will start to venture off after around 6 months, but they’ll stay close to mum for about 12 months when the little one will be strong and confident enough to forage for food and climb independently. Keepers will be able to determine the sex once the infant starts to leave mum in a few months’ time.

“This species gets its name from its appearance – their long, narrow limbs, long tails and black fur make them look almost spider-like. Their tails are often longer than their bodies and can be up to 85cm long, which acts as an extra limb, allowing them to move between tree branches while collecting food with their hands.

“They’re incredibly agile and fascinating to watch, spending the majority of their time high up in trees, leaping up to a distance of nine metres. They can walk in an upright position and communicate through high-frequency whinny vocalisations.

“The social structure of a group of spider monkeys is quite different to most other monkey species and the group here at Chester has proved to be really important to our wider scientific understanding of the species. Numerous conservationists and researchers have studied the spider monkeys here – developing methods for recording behavioural data which they’ve then transferred and applied to vital conservation action in the field.”

Colombian black-headed spider monkey facts:

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Latin name is Ateles fusciceps rufiventris
Kiara’s baby was born on 29/08/2021
Mum is 11 years old while dad, Popoyan, is 32
A single infant is born and is cared for by its mother until around the age of 20 months
The species is classed as vulnerable in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meaning they face a very real threat of extinction
They are native to Colombia and Panama
The species is under pressure from a high rate of habitat loss due to deforestation and huge hunting pressure
Their diet consists of fruit but they’ll also occasionally eat leaves, flowers and insects

For further information visit www.chesterzoo.org

READ MORE: Penguin at Chester Zoo receives sight-saving surgery

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