Yellow-breasted capuchin births
Two yellow-breasted capuchins have been born at Edinburgh Zoo over the past two months.
The births are significant to conservation efforts, as the species is under critical threat and listed as one of the world's top 25 most endangered primates.
There are approximately just 300 yellow-breasted capuchins left in the wild, since facing a population loss of more than 80 per cent in the past 50 years.
First to give birth was Pele on April 9, with Samba giving birth just a month later on May 5. It will not be possible to determine the newborns' genders for another few months.
Both infants are said to be integrating well within the family group at the zoo, which now consists of 11 yellow-breasted capuchins.
Lorna Hughes, the zoo's team leader for primates and hoofstock, said: "Due to their high intelligence they are a fascinating species to watch and work with; each member has its own distinct personality and interacts with both its group and the keepers in different ways.
"Both Pele and Samba have bred before and are very good mums. They are very patient with their newborns, who at the moment just spend all day feeding. It will be a few months before the infants start to explore the enclosure separate from their mothers."
Edinburgh Zoo is part of the European conservation and breeding programme for yellow-breasted capuchins and a number have been born at the zoo over the years.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
