Red-Tailed Guneon Swing In to the Maryland Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: December 12, 2020 5:28 am

A red tailed guneon which has recently arrived at the Maryland Zoo

Photo Credit: The Maryland Zoo

A pair of Schmidt’s red-tailed guenon have gone on display at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. The new arrivals will live in the Chimpanzee Forest where they will share their home with the colobus monkey family. Currently they are undergoing introductions with one another.

The pair is made up of a six year old female, Naim who came from Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park and the five year old male Gus who came from Zoo Atlanta. They came together at the zoo in November and have recently completed their 30 day quarantine period.

A red tailed guneon which has recently arrived at the Maryland Zoo

Photo Credit: The Maryland Zoo

This pair have been brought together on a recommendation of the Guenon Species Survival Plan (SSP), coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSPs provide pairing and breeding recommendations to maximize genetic diversity, with the goal of ensuring the long-term survival of the AZA population and the health of individual animals.

A red tailed guneon which has recently arrived at the Maryland Zoo

Photo Credit: The Maryland Zoo

“We are very excited to bring back guenon to the Zoo,” said Kirby Fowler, president & CEO of the Zoo. “They are such charismatic monkeys, and people will really enjoy watching them both in the Chimpanzee Forest and in the Colobus Trail come springtime.”

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Red-tailed guneons are small monkeys from Africa where they can be found in rainforests, swamplands and woodlands. They communicate with one another using over 20 vocalizations.

In the future it is hoped that the pair will breed and further the survival of their species. “Right now they are too young for breeding,” said Erin Grimm, mammal collection and conservation manager. “However it is our goal for them to create their own troop and have offspring in the future. For now we hope people will love their energy and admire this active dynamic addition to the colobus habitat.”