Hope baby monkey can raise awareness of breed

Goeldi's monkeys are classified as a vulnerable species due to the deforestation of their natural habitat

Conservationists hope the birth of a monkey will help raise awareness of a "vulnerable" breed threatened by deforestation of its habitat.

Northumberland College Zoo at Kirkley Hall, Ponteland, welcomed a new baby Goeldi's monkey as part of its conservation breeding programme and the zoo said it was "thriving".

The species is classed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and sits on the organisation's Red List of Threatened Species.

The zoo said it wanted to contribute to the Goeldi's monkey population through its breeding programme and raise awareness of the "stunning primates".

Zoo resource manager Steven Sykes said: "We are really pleased to be able to contribute to the captive population supporting the survival of the vulnerable wild population of Goeldi's monkeys."

The zoo received a pair of Goeldi's monkeys from Five Sisters and Blackpool zoos in 2023 and mum Rosa gave birth to the baby monkey on 27 December last year.

Rosa gave birth in December

The species is threatened by the deforestation of their natural rainforest habitat in South America.

Lacey Gallagher, an animal management student at the college, said: "It's great to be able to experience conservation breeding here at my college and learn about their husbandry and care."