On 29th October, female squirrel monkey, Milu, gave birth to a single offspring sired by our male, Malcolm!
There’s nothing spooky about this new arrival with Milu being an experienced mum after already giving birth to five babies prior with the new infant making it her sixth born to date! For now, Milu, will carry the new arrival around on her back until it is strong enough to explore and climb on its own.
Squirrel monkeys spend most of their life in the trees and will very rarely venture to the ground. You will most likely spot Milu jumping through the branches of the canopy with her young infant and may even catch Milu urinating on her hands, but this is completely normal! It’s a way of marking their territory as well as helping to control their body temperature.
The new addition is yet to be named by the Animal Care Team, but we will be sure to let you know when they have decided upon a name.
Although they are registered as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, squirrel monkeys are affected every year by the exotic pet trade and the deforestation and destruction of their home.
Why not see if you can spot our new infant on your next visit and watch as our troop explore and enjoy their habitat located at the Heart of the Amazon.
