Lion-tailed Macaque Siblings Are Thick As Thieves at NaturZoo Rheine
January 09, 2015
It's always so good to see siblings getting along!
2014 was a good year for NaturZoo Rheine in Germany: last year a total of three Lion-tailed Macaques, an Endangered species, were born at the zoo.
The two most recent are half-siblings, born on November 10 and December 14. Both mothers, one of which is a first-time mom, have been taking good care of their babies, and now the two half-sibs are starting to get to know each other.
Photo credit: NaturZoo Rheine
Adult Lion-tailed Macaques, both males and females, have gray 'beards' surrounding their faces. Newborns, lacking these beards, are born with pale rosy faces which develop from gray to black. Their beards begin to sprout at about one month old.
There are 24 Lion-tailed Macaques at NaturZoo Rheine who live in a few small sub-groups, creating the sort of social life they would have in the wild. The births are the result of natural pairings, rather than planned breeding efforts.
See and read more after the fold.
Lion-tailed macaques are Endangered primates found only in south-western India. It is estimated that about 4,000 remain in the wild. NaturZoo Rheine participates in the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme, but cautions that work by more zoos will be need to help this species recover.