A newborn monkey at a zoo in Australia surprised keepers when it emerged with ‘unique’ markings that looked just like the symbol of a certain Caped Crusader.
The black-handed spider monkey was born in the early hours of Friday 15 April at Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, which announced the new arrival in a blog post on its website. While they do not yet know the sex of the baby, staff at the zoo said the animal is ‘doing well, holding on strong to mom and nursing successfully’.
The newborn monkey is already a huge talking point thanks to the markings on its face, with Brevard Zoo saying: “Keepers were surprised to see the baby’s unique markings, noting the resemblance to the Batman symbol!”
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The baby monkey was born to 31-year-old mother Shelley, who is about to become a grandmother when her other offspring Tica gives birth to her own baby ‘soon’. Brevard Zoo said its animal care staff have observed other members of Shelley’s troop ‘showing lots of interest’ in the newest member of the family, and have been occasionally checking on both the mother and her baby.
The zoo continued: “Our black-handed spider monkey troop just got a little bigger! Thirty-one-year-old female Rochelle (aka ‘Shelley’) gave birth to a baby early in the morning on Friday, April 15.
“While we do not yet know the sex of the baby yet, our animal care staff noted that the youngling is doing well, holding on strong to mom and nursing successfully. The baby is also the offspring of 25-year-old male Shooter, who has fathered several other members of our current troop: Olive, Prim, Daisy and Blue Steel.
“Shelley has some experience in motherhood as well, having given birth to current troop members 19-year-old Tica, seven-year-old Prim and two-year-old Olive. Her offspring Tica is expecting her own baby soon!”
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Lauren Hinson, the Zoo’s Director of Animal Programs, added: “Shelley is a pro at caring for her offspring.”
Native to Central and South America, black-handed spider monkeys are classed as vulnerable to extinction, which the zoo says is due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. It added that every birth at is a 'safeguard against losing these precious species in their natural range'.
Brevard Zoo shared footage of new baby on YouTube, saying that the monkey and its mother are on habitat in its Rainforest Revealed area, which means visitors can keep their eyes peeled to spot them in one of the spider monkeys' three connected living spaces.
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Topics: Animals