Cincinnati Zoo’s ‘Baby New Year’ Is Announced
January 25, 2017
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s first baby of 2017 is a Guereza Colobus. The little snow-white baby was born two weeks ago to first time mom, Adanna, and dad, Tiberius. Keepers report the infant is strong, alert and nursing. Once the sex is determined, a name will be given.
The species is a type of monkey once thought to be abnormal because it has no thumb, only a stub where the digit would usually be.
“Tiberius was born here and lived most of his 21 years in a bachelor group that included his father and brothers. Caring for this all-male group was best for the North American Colobus population, but also meant taking a multi-year break from breeding,” said Ron Evans, Cincinnati Zoo’s curator of primates. “With the Cincinnati line out of the breeding population for all those years, Tiberius became one of the most eligible bachelors in the population after he outlived his siblings,”
Four-year-old Adanna arrived at Cincinnati Zoo in 2015, along with another young female, on a breeding recommendation from the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a body that manages populations in Zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
“Their [the two females] playful nature rubbed off and we saw lots of lighthearted play behavior between the three of them,” said Evans. “Tiberius is in his senior years, so it’s significant that his genes are now represented in the North American Zoo population.”
Photo Credits: Cincinnati Zoo
Guereza Colobus (Colobus guereza), also known as Mantled Guereza, are born snowy white with pink faces and blue eyes, which makes it easy for the mothers and families to see them in their native dense African rainforest canopies. However, they quickly turn to the full adult coloration by around six months.
All Colobus females look after each other’s kids as they play around in the thick treetops. They spend the majority of their time in trees.
Colobus monkeys are entirely vegetarian and equipped with a three-chambered stomach to help digest large amounts of leaves.
Although the species is currently listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, their biggest threat is habitat loss. When forests are cut down to make room for agriculture, settlements, and roads, the Colobus monkey loses its home. The Guereza Colobus is also threatened by hunting for bush meat and for its skin.
Mom and baby will be bonding behind the scenes during the cold months but will be viewable in their outdoor space later this year.