Dublin Zoo Welcomes White Crowned Mangabey

The summer continues to be fruitful at Dublin Zoo as they welcome yet another new arrival this month, a white crowned mangabey, an elegant monkey from West Africa. While it is still too early to determine the sex, zookeepers have named the youngster Sunyani, which is a region in Ghana.

White crowned mangabeys are endangered in the wild and their numbers are rapidly declining. Dublin Zoo is one of twelve zoos in Europe participating in a breeding programme, Dublin Zoo has a very successful breeding record.

Helen Clarke-Bennet, team leader of the African Plains said: "We are particularly proud of the new arrival as it is the first second generation birth among our group of mangabeys!"

"The newborn will stay close to its mother Monifa for about a year and will eventually become more independent. Although after a month the youngster will spend more time with the other females in the group which gives them good experience for when they become mothers."

Originally from Western Africa, the mangabeys are known as 'Old World Monkeys' and the species include some of the rarest monkeys in the world. They have dark skin and white eyelids that match the facial skin and crests of hair on the top of their head. Standing 48 centimetres tall on average and weighing close to 11 kilograms, the mangabeys mostly feed on fruit, nuts and seeds.

The new arrival can be seen out and about with its family in the African Plains today.

(BMcN)