Wildlife park staff celebrate monkey's birth

A monkey which is a member of a species whose numbers in the wild are falling has been born at a wildlife park in Yorkshire.

The youngster, who has yet to be named, was the third gelada monkey ever to be born at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, staff have said.

Amy Wright, primate leader at the park, said the members of the team were "delighted" when they found out mum Bachuma was pregnant.

Since Bachuma gave birth last month, "she has kept her baby tight to her chest", Ms Wright said.

Geladas "originate from high rocky mountains in Ethiopia, where global warming is threatening their existence", according to Ms Wright.

"They are the last pure grass-eating species of primate left on the planet, and we are dedicated to protecting them."

Staff at Yorkshire Wildlife Park park have been working with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria on research projects into geladas for several years.

The initiative saw Taylor, the father of the park's newest arrival, and his half-brother Obi - both previously of Colchester Zoo - introduced to an already established group of primates, something which had never been done before.

Obi fathered Azezo in December 2022 and Kobo in March 2024 at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

A spokesperson for the attraction said it was now one of the first parks to have two breeding troops of gelada monkeys in the same reserve.

Ms Wright said it was still too early to know the gender of the new arrival, but time would tell.

"Male geladas have a long cape of hair and the red patch on their chest is much larger and brighter," she explained.

She added that 19-year-old Bachuma was the "alpha female" of one troop of geladas and "fiercely protective of her new infant".

"The other females in the troop help Bachuma with grooming and check up on the baby," she added.

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