Dudley Zoo Celebrates First Spider Monkey Birth in 4 Decades

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: August 7, 2020 12:30 pm

The spider monkey infant clinging to its mother

Photo Credit: Dudley Zoo

Dudley Zoo in the United Kingdom has celebrated their first spider monkey birth in over four decades.

Mother Evita, 14 gave birth during the middle of the day as visitors looked on at the zoo.

The spider monkey infant clinging to its mother

Photo Credit: Dudley Zoo

DZC Curator Richard Brown, said: “Animals usually give birth in the quiet of the night and we’d prepared for the impending arrival by setting up cameras in the indoor den and made alterations to the off-show area, in case we needed to separate the group, but Evita decided to surprise us all with an outdoor birth in the hot midday sunshine, with visitors alerting keepers to the event.”

The Colombian spider monkey is listed as critically endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list making the birth even more exciting.

This species is under threat from habitat destruction and hunting for the bush meat trade.

The spider monkey infant clinging to its mother

Photo Credit: Dudley Zoo

“This is incredibly exciting news for the zoo to celebrate the birth of such a rare primate species,” added Brown.

At Dudley Zoo this newborn will live as part of the family group with dad, Chester and adults, Valentine and Charlie.

Richard added: “For a first-time mum, Evita is being really attentive and the baby, who is yet unnamed or sexed, looks to be thriving.

“Mum will exclusively carry her newborn for the next few months, first on her stomach and then on her lower back, with the baby tightly wrapping its tiny tail around Evita and gripping her midsection with its hands.”

Learn more about Dudley Zoo on their website – Dudley Zoo