Baby boom! We've welcomed twenty adorable ‘zoo borns’
We're celebrating a boom of adorable ‘zoo borns’ in recent months, after the healthy arrival of some seriously cute little ones!
Visitors coming to the zoo over the summer can look out for six energetic and cheeky lemur babies, 7-month-old twin binturongs, two Black Colombian spider monkey infants, dwarf mongoose twins, a Goeldi’s monkey babe, a Saki monkey infant, two pygmy marmoset babies and four prairie dog pups!
The newest arrival is a beautiful Colombian black spider monkey baby, born on the 21st June – a wonderful Father’s Day surprise for ‘Dad’ Mo! The tiny infant, who is yet to be named, joins big sister Kendall, who was born in April this year and named by the public after her keeper, Megan Kendall. Keepers report that both mum Jamundi and baby are doing wonderfully, with the youngster spending most of the day clinging closely to mum while gradually becoming more curious about the world around them.
Another exciting primate arrival came on 17th May, when a rare white-faced saki monkey was born to first-time parents Twiggy and Pires. The birth is particularly special as the infant represents the fourth generation of the same saki monkey family to be born at Drusillas, continuing a remarkable family line that began when great-grandmother Requena arrived at the Park in 2000. The newest addition is another important milestone in Drusillas long-standing success in caring for this fascinating species.
There has also been a baby boom amongst the Park's ring-tailed lemurs, with four new arrivals born at the end of June. New mums Periwinkle and Frankie welcomed the youngsters, with Periwinkle giving birth to triplets and Frankie to one precious infant. The new additions join experienced lemur Mum Eve's twin boys, born on 12th April - the first ring-tailed lemur babies born at Drusillas in 13 years.
The growing troop has become a firm favourite with visitors, who can often spot the tiny youngsters riding on their mums' backs, snuggling up for a nap or feed, or following in their older brothers footsteps by leaping around the beams and plants in their habitat, under the watchful eye of Dad Pip.
Keepers were also thrilled at the birth of an adorable Goeldi's monkey baby, born on 4th May to proud parents Violet and Neville. The arrival is fantastic news for Drusillas and an important conservation success for the species, which is currently listed as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List. The tiny youngster can often be spotted safely tucked close to mum and is starting to explore their habitat at the front of the zoo as they grow in confidence.
Meanwhile, Drusillas' dwarf mongoose family has become even busier following the birth of twins in early May. The playful pair have quickly become firm favourites with visitors and can often be seen entertaining guests by playing their own version of football - enthusiastically kicking stones around their habitat with their older siblings. It's a must-see for anyone still missing the excitement of the World Cup!
The same month, the Sussex zoo also welcomed four lively prairie dog pups, who can often be seen popping in and out of their burrows, play-fighting with one another and delighting visitors with their curious personalities.
Earlier in the year, on 29th January, Drusillas welcomed two tiny pygmy marmosets – the world's smallest monkey species. The pint-sized pair have gone from strength to strength and continue to charm visitors with their energetic antics and impossibly small size.
In addition, visitors also thrill in meeting our adorable binturong family, where mum Dora certainly has her hands full! Eldest daughter Boots, born in August last year, has embraced her role as big sister and is already showing her younger twin siblings - born on 2nd January - the ropes. Named by the public, Sabang and Bunga, Indonesian names meaning "forest" and "flower", have quickly earned a reputation for mischief. According to their keepers, the cheeky duo are already "causing chaos", following in Boots' pawprints and making a habit of destroying the plants in their habitat - much to the dismay of Drusillas' gardening team!
Head Keeper, Gemma Romanis, commented: “It seems like there are babies everywhere at the moment, it’s clear our animals have been… keeping busy!”
Gemma continued, “It’s one of the best parts of our jobs seeing successful births. Many of our animals are part of EAZA Ex Situ Programmes (EEPs) to ensure threatened species have a healthy backup population in zoos, so it’s a vital role that zoos play in conservation. It’s possible we will have more new arrivals in the not-so-distant future too, so I have my fingers firmly crossed for the pitter patter of more paws and claws.”