Drusillas Zoo in Sussex welcomes Goeldi's monkey baby

Drusillas Zoo has shared its delight at the arrival of its first baby Goeldi's monkey in a decade.

The new addition is a boost for conservation efforts for the species, currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list.

The tiny monkey was born in March to proud parents Penelope and Neville. The cute couple met less than two years ago, when Penelope arrived from Blackpool Zoo and Neville was transferred from Paignton Zoo in Devon.

A close up of the Goeldi's monkey baby (Image: Drusillas Zoo)

Keepers had high hopes for the lovestruck pair from the start, who seemed to fall head over heels almost immediately, grooming each other and spending every moment together.

Drusillas’ head keeper Gemma Romanis said: "The arrival of the Goeldi’s monkey baby is very exciting for Drusillas as we have been working towards breeding this vulnerable species for some time. The new baby was expected, as Penelope was showing signs of pregnancy, but that doesn’t make it any less special - this is our first birth of this vulnerable primate for ten years.

Read more: Zoo issues appeal to gardeners to help feed bamboo-loving animals

Goeldi's monkey baby with mum (Image: Drusillas zoo)

"Goeldi’s monkeys are inquisitive in nature, vulnerable in the wild, and are a completely unique species. Neville is quite laid back, while Penelope is a bundle of energy who zips around their habitat. It will be fascinating to observe their behaviour as a family group and see which parent the new babe takes after.

"The little one is thriving, and we’re thrilled with how well Penelope and Neville are getting on as first-time parents. They share the responsibility of carrying and looking after the infant and are super gentle and sweet – they’re both clearly naturals and doing all the right things for the baby.”

The baby monkey hitching a ride on mum's back (Image: Drusillas Zoo)

Goeldi’s monkeys are relatively small primates, measuring just 21cm to 23cm - not including their tails, which can be 25-30cm long, and their thick, black coats, which can make them look much larger than they are. They live in dense rainforest vegetation in northwest South America, but the species has become vulnerable, mainly due to the illegal pet trade and deforestation.

The zoo has now asked for the help of visitors to decide the name of the new infant. They have not confirmed the gender of the baby just yet – so a gender neutral name would be preferred.

If you would like to help choose a name, head to Drusillas Park social media channels (@drusillaspark) to make a suggestion.