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Endangered bonobo born at Twycross

Twycross Zoo: 'Bonobo mum and baby are doing well'

Both mum and baby are doing very well. Banya is quite relaxed with the baby and seems confident in her mothering skills, and this has given her keepers an opportunity to get a close look at the baby and confirm that it is a boy.

Banya is an integral part of our bonobo group and this applies to her son as well. The other bonobos are interested in him but at this point only Banya will carry him. He will remain in close proximity to his mum for the new fext years.

– Dr. Charlotte Macdonald, Curator of Living Collections at Twycross Zoo
Endangered bonobo born at Twycross

Endangered bonobo born at Twycross Zoo

Banya gave birth to the baby boy in Februrary
Banya gave birth to the baby boy in Februrary Credit: Twycross Zoo

Twycross Zoo has announced the birth of an endangered bonobo. 23 year old bonobo, Banya, gave birth to healthy baby boy after an eight and a half month pregnancy.

Twycross Zoo is the only place in the UK to house bonobos
Twycross Zoo is the only place in the UK to house bonobos Credit: Twycross Zoo

Banya and her newborn, who was born on 20 February, are on show to the public within the bonobo house.

Banya had been pregnant with the baby boy for eight and a half months
Banya had been pregnant with the baby boy for eight and a half months Credit: Twycross Zoo

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It's a Boy! New gorilla at Twycross

Baby gorilla at Twycross Zoo is a boy

The new gorilla at Twycross
The new gorilla at Twycross Credit: Twycross Zoo

Twycross Zoo have announced that the gorilla born in early January is a boy.

Mum, Ozala, gave birth on 3rd January 2013. Ozala, was, at first, very protective of her newborn and so staff were unable to get close to the infant.

The three month old baby gorilla is an endangered species
The three month old baby gorilla is an endangered species Credit: Twycross Zoo

“Ozala was so protective of her newborn infant that she held it very close and it is only now that the infant is bigger, and Ozala has become more relaxed, that we have been able to see the infant closely enough to determine its gender."

Charlotte Macdonald, Curator of Living Collections

The western lowland gorilla is a critically endangered species.

Ozala and her three month old boy
Ozala and her three month old boy Credit: Twycross Zoo

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Twycross home to one of the oldest spider monkeys in Europe

Spider monkeys are New World Monkeys, meaning they come from South America. Credit: Twycross Zoo

A critically endangered variegated spider monkey, named ‘Lady Lulu’ by her keepers, is one of the oldest of its kind in captivity in Europe, and holds the crown for being the oldest in the UK.

Lady Lulu is 39-years old, and considered in very good health for her age.

Variegated spider monkeys are known to live until 27-years of age in the wild and up to 40-years of age in captivity.

Spider monkeys mostly eat in the morning. Their diet is made up from fruit, nuts, seeds and flowers. Credit: Twycross Zoo

Variegated spider monkeys are classified critically endangered in the wild on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Redlist of Threatened Species, and in 2012 they were listed as one of the worlds 25 most endangered primates.

The wild population has declined by 80 per cent over the past four decades due to habitat loss from human encroachment and hunting.

Spider monkeys get their names from their very long arms and legs and the fact that they use their tails to hang upside down.

Twycross Zoo confirm endangered Siamang Gibbon is a boy

Two and a half month old Darwin has been confirmed as a boy Credit: Twycross Zoo

Zoo keepers at Twycross Zoo have confirmed an endangered Siamang Gibbon is a boy.

Darwin was born on 17th November 2012 and is showing excellent signs of progression.

He will be moving to a brand new Siamang enclosure with his mum, dad and older brother over the next few days.

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