The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden's first baby of 2017 is a guereza colobus, a type of monkey once thought to be abnormal because it has no thumbs, or only a stub where the digit would usually be. Born last week to first-time-mom Adanna and dad Tiberius, the still-unnamed little one is strong, alert and nursing. Gender is not yet known.
"Tiberius was born here and lived most of his 21 years in a bachelor group that included his father and brothers. Caring for this all-male group was best for the North American colobus population but also meant taking a multi-year break from breeding," said Ron Evans, Cincinnati Zoo's curator of primates. "With the Cincinnati line out of the breeding population for all those years, Tiberius became one of the most eligible bachelors in the population after he outlived his siblings,"
Four-year-old Adanna came to Cincinnati Zoo in 2015, along with another young female, on a breeding recommendation from the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a body that manages populations in Zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). "Their playful nature rubbed off and we saw lots of lighthearted play behavior between the three of them," said Evans. "Tiberius is in his senior years, so it's significant that his genes are now represented in the North American Zoo population."
Guereza colobus are born snowy white with pink faces and blue eyes, which makes it easy for the mothers and families to see them in their native dense African rainforest canopies. However, they quickly turn to the full adult coloration by around six months. All colobus females look after each other's kids as they play around in the thick treetops.
Colobus monkeys spend the majority of their time in trees. They hang and swing from branches using their four, extra long fingers like hooks. A normal thumb would hinder this activity, which explains the species' unusual adaptation. They are entirely vegetarian and equipped with a three-chambered stomach to help digest large amounts of leaves. The biggest threat to the colobus is habitat loss. When forests are cut down to make room for agriculture, settlements, and roads, the colobus monkey loses its home.
Mom and baby will be bonding behind the scenes during the cold months but will be viewable in their outdoor space later this year.
About the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is home to more than 500 animal and 3000 plant species and is internationally known for its success in the protection and propagation of endangered animals and plants. The Zoo's research facility, CREW, is a global leader in wildlife conservation and is dedicated to "Saving Species with Science". Zoo and CREW staff lead and support conservation projects all over the world. Learn more about ways you can support the Zoo's mission.