Endangered zoo monkey gives birth to entirely white infant

A cute white baby monkey has brought double joy to experts after being welcomed at a UK zoo.

The tiny female of the endangered king colobus monkey species is the second born to the same family in a matter of months.

The latest infant – who is yet to be named – was born to 23-year-old mother Ivy.

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She joins Limba, another young king colobus born last autumn.

It means staff at Paignton Zoo in Devon are currently caring for two king colobus infants within the same family group.

Monkeys of the species are born entirely white.

As they grow, their colouring gradually changes and they become mostly black, as reported by What’s The Jam.

Nadia Gould, team leader of mammals at Paignton Zoo, said: “We are incredibly proud to be part of a wider breeding programme that helps protect species like the king colobus.

“These births are the result of careful planning and years of collaboration between zoos, all with the aim of safeguarding the future of these animals.”

Ivy is also mother to Lola, who gave birth to Limba in October – a pattern that is common in primate species, as different generations often raise young at the same time.

Both babies were sired by Limbali, an unrelated male introduced to the group as part of a managed breeding programme.

Limbali sadly died just weeks before Limba’s birth, making the recent arrivals particularly poignant for the animal care team.

The newborn has been clinging closely to Ivy at the zoo’s Monkey Heights area.

Her bright white coat has made her easy to spot.

At three months old, Limba has already undergone a striking transformation and now looks like a miniature version of the adults, with dark fur and a distinctive white-grey cape.

King colobus monkeys are classified as endangered, with wild populations declining due to habitat loss and hunting in West Africa, where the species lives in forested areas.

Forest clearance for agriculture, settlements and resource use continue to reduce the space available for these monkeys in the wild.

European zoos work together through carefully managed breeding programmes to help safeguard species such as the king colobus by maintaining healthy, genetically diverse populations.

Each birth is planned, monitored and plays a role in supporting the long-term survival of the species.

Monkey Heights is now home to three babies in total, as the king colobus infants are joined by Koidu, a Diana monkey born last summer.

Nadia added: “Having three babies in Monkey Heights at the same time has brought such a lovely energy to the zoo.

“Seeing visitors’ reactions when they spot them is always a highlight, and it gives us a great opportunity to talk about how endangered these species are and why breeding programmes like this are so important.”

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