Females given mirror enrichment ahead of new arrival

To celebrate the imminent arrival of a new male squirrel monkey, keepers at London Zoo have provided their female monkeys with a mirror.

According to keepers, the mirror forms part of the monkeys' varied enrichment programme and encourages their natural curiosity by giving them something new to investigate.

There will soon be another addition to the zoo's "Meet the Monkeys" enclosure, as a male called Eubie is set to join the girls.

Squirrel monkeys are classed as threatened in the wild due to their use in biomedical research and as pets, bait and food.

London Zoo is involved in breeding programmes which aim to boost numbers of this primate species, and their squirrel monkeys are part of the European Endangered Species Programme.

Squirrel monkey keeper Kathryn Sanders, said: "We’re all excited about the arrival of Eubie at ZSL London Zoo – and none more so than the squirrel monkey girls.
 
"The mirror is a great enrichment for them, they spend lots of time trying to suss it out as it’s something different to investigate – and of course they can make sure they’re looking good too!"

Image courtesy of ZSL London Zoo