Baby monkey — with big eyes and white fur — born at Arkansas zoo. See it bond with mom
An Arkansas zoo’s newest addition doesn’t have any thumbs — but it’s considered an advantage.
The white-furred monkey was welcomed into a tight-knit group of Angolan colobus monkeys Oct. 30, marking the second birth from parents Thumbelina and Azizi at the Little Rock Zoo, according to a Nov. 9 Facebook post.
Angolan colobus are a vulnerable species, the Colobus Conservation said. Colobus monkeys are native to more than 15 countries in Africa.
“The name ’colobus’ is derived from the Greek word for ’mutilated,’ because unlike other monkeys, colobus monkeys do not have thumbs,” according to the African Wildlife Foundation.
These long-haired black and white primates thrive in packs, so the newborn will be clung to its mother while getting to know its surroundings.
“Baby is alert and very strong and is already watching older brother, Ngumu…” the zoo said in the post. “In a few month’s time, the two will be running around and playing together.”
There are two species of colobus monkeys — the Angolan and the Eastern — that are differentiated by their white hair. Angolan colobus have white fur flowing from their shoulders while Eastern species have a “U-shaped cape” of white fur, the foundation said.
While not an endangered species, the monkeys’ habitats are threatened by hunting and human development.
They rely on a forest of trees to travel between branches using their thumbless hands, which helps them grip the tree limbs, the foundation said.
The zoo says the mom and baby are keeping the newborn’s gender “under wraps,” but that they hope to know soon.
This story was originally published November 12, 2024 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Baby monkey — with big eyes and white fur — born at Arkansas zoo. See it bond with mom."
