New Arrival: Birth of Endangered Colombian Black Spider Monkey

Drusillas Park is celebrating a very special new arrival this spring, as their Colombian black spider monkey family has welcomed a healthy baby girl, born at the beginning of April.

The birth marks an exciting milestone for the group, who settled into their purpose-built habitat after arriving at Drusillas Park in October last year. Since then, they have thrived in their new home, delighting visitors with their cheeky and fun personalities.

The tiny infant is the first offspring for ‘Mum’ Moa since arriving at the Park in October 2025. At just a few weeks old, the newborn remains clinging tightly to mum as she moves through the habitat, with some eagle-eyed visitors already catching glimpses of the little one – her tail peeping out from mum’s cuddle, or even a moment of her observing her surroundings. Even at this early stage, the newborn is beginning to take in the world around her – quietly observing the group from the safety of mum and starting to absorb the sights, sounds, and rhythms of family life.

Zoo Manager, Mark Kenward, shared his delight at the new arrival, saying: “It’s been absolutely lovely to welcome a baby spider monkey to the Park. Moa is proving to be a fantastic mum, and it’s been wonderful to see how the whole group has come together around her. There’s a real sense of shared interest – even though the baby is still very small and staying close to mum, the others are always nearby, watching and learning. It’s a brilliant example of how important these early social bonds are within the group, and exactly the kind of natural behaviour we hope to see.”

The wider family group, consisting of ‘Dad’ Mo, ‘Mum’ Jamundi, two children Ernie and one-year-old Dilly, and of course, new mum Moa, have been quick to show interest in their newest member. For spider monkeys, the arrival of a baby is very much a shared family event, bringing the group closer together and strengthening their already strong social bonds.

“We’ve already seen the family gathering nearby Moa and baby,” Mark continued. “It’s wonderful to see them watching intently and learning from Moa’s careful, constant attention. These early observations form the foundation of future maternal skills, particularly for the younger family members, giving them valuable insight into how to care for an infant.”

As she grows over the coming months, keepers expect the young monkey to slowly become more confident, eventually beginning to explore her surroundings, play with siblings, and develop the strength and coordination needed, but for now, she is happiest right where she belongs, safe in mum’s arms.

Colombian black spider monkeys are a highly intelligent and social species, native to the rainforests of Colombia. Classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, they face increasing threats in the wild due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Successful births like this play an important role in conservation breeding programmes, helping to safeguard the future of the species.

Drusillas Park is inviting the public to play a special role in naming its newest arrival. A shortlist of names has been carefully selected by keepers, drawing inspiration from her Colombian heritage with Spanish choices such as Blanca, Bonita, Olaya and Kaya, alongside Kendall - a playful nod to one of her keepers, Megan Kendall. The public can cast their vote for their favourite name via Drusillas’ social media channels.

Visitors to the Park are encouraged to keep an eye out for the newest member of the family, who can often be seen clinging closely to mum as she moves through the habitat.