Rare Endangered Monkey Twins Celebrate First Birthday

First birthdays are always extra special but this year Monkey Forest have a double celebration ahead as on the 23rd April 2015 twins were born.

Last year Monkey Forest were delighted at the sight of their first new arrival, but to their amazement, there were not one but two baby monkeys, a little boy, and a little girl. Twins are extremely rare in Barbary macaques and the team kept a close eye on their development as the chances of both surviving were very slim.

Now, one year later both are doing well and busy exploring their 60-acre home, playing with friends and family under the watchful eye of mum and the rest of the monkeys. 

Director and Primatologist Sue Wiper said, “I am delighted to celebrate the twins first birthday and we have enjoyed watching their antics over the past year.  Each birth is important for the Barbary macaques that have been classed as endangered since 2008 so having twins is exceptional”. 

Barbary macaques are seasonal breeders and give birth in the springtime. This is due to the climate in their native Morocco and Algeria where they have hot summers and cold winters.  In the spring, there is plenty of fresh vegetation that allows ‘mum’ to eat enough for herself and enough to produce rich milk for the new-borns. 

As spring is the main birthing season, Monkey Forest are also celebrating their oldest monkey’s birthday this week. She was born in 1986 and will be turning the ripe old age of 30! The average life expectancy of Barbary macaques in the park is 23 so she is a remarkable age. 

The forest is very lucky and proud to have had such a rare occurrence in the forest and the 30-year-old monkey is proof that all is well with the monkeys at Trentham. With a month of special birthdays and baby season fast approaching, Monkey Forest are looking forward to welcoming 2016’s new arrivals very soon.

 

To book your next meeting or team away day at Trentham Monkey Forest, call us on 01782 232076.