'Adorable' rare and endangered monkey born at zoo

A rare and endangered king colobus monkey has been born at a zoo.

Paignton Zoo in Devon said the "adorable baby", believed to be a girl, was born on 22 October after her 14-year old mother, Lola, gave birth in the monkey heights exhibit.

It said the species was classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the zoo was one of 13 facilities across the UK which housed the "incredibly rare" species.

James Shora, mammals keeper, said: "Every birth of an endangered species is something to celebrate. This adorable baby is already captivating our visitors and represents real hope for the future of king colobus monkeys."

The zoo said keepers intended to name the baby king colobus monkey Limba, in honour of her father Limbali who passed away early in October.

It said Lola and the baby were "thriving and easily visible to visitors".

The zoo said king colobus infants were born white specifically to help mothers track them, as it was normal behaviour for babies to be passed around within the family group.

It added: "The baby will gradually develop the distinctive markings of this rare West African species over approximately six months, transforming into a jet-black coat with white facial fringes and a sweeping white shoulder cape."

Populations of the species had plummeted by more than 50% over the past three decades due to habitat loss, hunting, and forest fragmentation, the zoo said.

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