Chester Zoo celebrates birth of rare spider monkey called Olive

Visitors to Chester Zoo caught a glimpse of a newborn baby spider monkey as it was being cradled in the arms of mum, Kiara.

Zookeepers at Chester have revealed the ‘precious newcomer’ – a rare Columbian black-headed spider monkey – is a female named Olive.

The South American primates are found mainly in Colombia and Panama where they are being increasingly threatened by hunting, illegal trafficking and the destruction of their tropical rainforest habitat – with more than 80% of its population having been lost in the last half a century.

The world’s authority on the state of nature, The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has listed the species as vulnerable – meaning it faces a high risk of becoming extinct in the wild. 

Primatologists at the zoo are responsible for managing the coordinated efforts between European zoos that are working to boost numbers and safeguard these charismatic monkeys from disappearing altogether.

Mark Brayshaw, head of mammals at the conservation zoo, said: “Life as a baby spider monkey is very bumpy as these fascinating primates are incredibly agile, spending the majority of their time leaping between the treetops and using their tails to hang upside down while foraging for food.

“It’s fantastic to see Kiara cradling baby Olive closely and being so attentive.

“Olive will cling to mum’s belly for a few months, before gaining enough confidence to start branching off on her own and start exploring independently – which will be great to see.

“Spider monkeys face huge survival challenges in the wild. In welcoming new life into the conservation breeding programme, we’re contributing to global efforts to secure a future for these highly endangered primates.

“In tandem with offering education, carrying out scientific research and improving public awareness, we hope to play our part in reversing their decline and ensuring the species thrives long into the future.”

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