(Syracuse, NY – May 10, 2013) The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of a baby patas monkey. It is the first offspring for mother, Becca, and the fifth baby patas monkey born at the zoo. The youngster was born in the early morning hours on April 29.

 It will likely be several weeks before zoo staff know if the baby is a boy or a girl, as the staff is maintaining a “hands off” approach. Once the gender is determined, the staff will decide on a name for the baby.

“Though she is a first time mother, Becca is doing a wonderful job taking care of her baby,” said Ted Fox, curator at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. “Over the years, she has had the opportunity to observe as other females in the group have reared their young, which has prepared her for motherhood.”

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is one of just 15 American zoos to house patas monkeys. They are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP) – a collaborative effort between the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and zoos around the world to help ensure their survival.

Patas monkeys are members of the Guenon family, a diverse group of African monkeys found from the rainforest of Western Africa through the savannahs of Kenya. With their slender bodies and long limbs, patas monkeys are better physically suited for a life on the ground rather than up in the trees. They are one of the fastest primates, capable of reaching speeds upwards of 30 mph. Patas are recognized by a black brow ridge and nose, as well as by a distinctive white area surrounding their mouths that resembles a mustache!

In the wild, breeding typically occurs in the summer, which is the wet season, while births occur in the dry winter months. After an average gestation length of 167 days, the female gives birth to a single offspring.  The nursing period extends for approximately six months.

By martha

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.