Critically endangered monkey born at safari park

The baby monkey weighed as much as an average chicken's egg

A critically endangered monkey has been born at a safari park.

Maxi the cotton top tamarin monkey baby gave birth at Longleat in Wiltshire on Thursday.

The baby weighed about 40g (1.4oz), the same as an average chicken egg.

Keeper Abbi Wheeler said the news was "really exciting" as Maxi and Rico are the first breeding pair at the safari park.

There are thought to be about 6,000 of the monkeys in the wild.

The Wiltshire arrival's birth coincided with the International Day of the Cotton Top Tamarin.

There are believed to be about 6,000 cotton top tamarin monkeys in the wild

Keepers realised Maxi was pregnant when they saw her weight going up during weekly checks.

They then spotted she was giving birth on CCTV captured at the safari park.

Ms Wheeler said: “Cotton-top tamarins usually sleep through the night, but Maxi was awake for an hour one night which sent an alert via the camera system as it was unusual; when we watched we saw her make a jumping movement and we saw a baby climbing around her side and cling straight onto her fur."

It is not yet known whether the new baby is male or female and it is expected it will be fully weaned at around 15 weeks old.

“They share parenting as carrying the baby takes up a lot of energy so mum holds while feeding and then dad carries the infant," Ms Wheeler added.