Rare king colobus monkey born to proud parents at British zoo

Zoo keepers in Paignton are celebrating the birth of a king colobus monkey.

Photo issued by Paignton Zoo of a baby king colobus monkey who was born at the zoo in Devon on Saturday. Image by Paignton Zoo/PA Wire

The monkey was born at Paignton Zoo in Devon on Saturday to father Martin and mother Ivy.

It is currently pure white but will begin to develop black markings aged one month. King colobus monkeys, which weigh less than 1kg at birth, are listed as a vulnerable species.

A spokesman for Paignton Zoo said: “The new arrival is important, as there are only six collections in Europe holding king colobus.

“The species is listed by the IUCN as vulnerable. It is threatened by habitat destruction and hunting for food.”

Photo issued by Paignton Zoo of a baby king colobus monkey who was born at the zoo in Devon on Saturday to father Martin and mother Ivy. Image by Paignton Zoo/PA Wire

A single youngster is born after a gestation of around 180 days. King colobus monkeys mainly eat leaves, which are fermented and digested in their unusually large stomachs.

They spend all their lives in the tree tops, using four long fingers of each forelimb to grasp branches like hooks.

The monkeys are not checked by a vet until they are at least six months old – meaning keepers have to wait to find out their sex.

(Press Association)