Baby Guereza Colobus Monkey "Ficus"
April 20, 2022
This adorable little boy joined the Saint Louis Zoo on Monday, March 21, 2022. The baby Guereza colobus monkey, named Ficus, can be seen with his family group at the Primate House or Primate Canopy Trails.
Ficus is the first monkey born at the Zoo since the opening of Michael and Quirsis Riney Primate Canopy Trails, a 35,000-square-foot outdoor expansion connected to the Primate House. The Zoo is excited to be able to offer baby and mom, along with the rest of the colobus family, access to this outdoor space, providing the baby with valuable time in nature, sunlight, and fresh air. For the first time, guests can welcome a new baby in this outdoor habitat.
His birth is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for the Guereza colobus monkey, a conservation breeding program to manage a genetically healthy population of Guereza colobus monkeys in North American zoos. Since 2011, there have been 11 successful colobus births at the Zoo. The baby has a number of siblings at the Zoo, including Juniper, who was born to the same parents last year.
Mom Cecelia is 22 years old and the dominant female in the group of five males and four females. The experienced mother of seven is taking great care of her newborn. The new baby will stay with mom for nursing and sleeping, but all of the females in a colobus family will take turns holding and carrying the infant when Mom is busy eating or socializing. The father, Kima, is 16 years old and can be seen watching over his family and interacting with the youngsters.