Twycross Zoo Ends the Year with A Baby Boom

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: December 9, 2020 11:10 pm

A diana monkey infant with its mother at Twycross Zoo

Photo Credit: Phil Grain/ Twycross Zoo

Keepers at Twycross Zoo have been keeping busy this week looking after three new arrivals which were all born within days of one another.

The three new arrivals include a Diana monkey, dusky langur, both of which are classed as endangered and a Kirk’s dik dik. All three new arrivals contribute to the preservation of their species and are a great reward for the keepers who have worked hard during a tough year.

A dusky langur with its mother at Twycross Zoo

Photo Credit: Twycross Zoo

Neil Dorman, Curator of Twycross Zoo, said: “In what has been a such a challenging year, the arrival of these three species are just another reminder of why we do what we do.”

“We have such an amazing team here who work tirelessly in order to help us continue our award-winning conservation work, but this year, in particular, we have to say our biggest thank you ever to our wonderful customers and the public for supporting our charity in 2020.”

A diana monkey infant with its mother at Twycross Zoo

Photo Credit:Phil Grain/ Twycross Zoo

Duksy leaf monkeys or spectacled langurs as they are also known due to the large white patches around their eyes come from Asia. Here they spend most of their day in the trees eating flowers, shoots, seedlings, leaves and fruit.

Diana monkeys can be found in Africa living in groups of up to 30 which means there are many members of the troop to lookout for danger. They are also known as Diana guneons and are named for their crescent-shaped eyebrow which is said to resemble the bow carried by the Roman goddess Diana.

— AD —

Finally the kirk’s dik dik is a small antelope found in East Africa. Their high metabolism means they need to eat lots of vegetation each day to survive.

This is the second kirk’s dik dik to be born to Twycross Zoo during 2020. The first is named George, named after George Eliot Hospital in homage to the keyworkers.