First Spider monkey baby born at Colchester Zoo in 8 years!
Cheekaboo the Spider monkey that Woodland Corner sponsored has become a parent again!
On 17th October 2016 a young female Spider monkey was born at Colchester Zoo. This bundle of joy was born to mum Cheekaboo and Dad Julius, this is the first spider monkey baby born at Colchester Zoo in 8 years, after Cheekaboo previously gave birth to twin boys, Chester and Charlie, who transferred to Dudley Zoo in 2014.
The group in which the baby was born was newly formed last year and is now made up of 6 females, including baby, and 1 male Julius, baby’s Dad!
Spider monkeys have a gestation period of 7-8 months. Their hands lack a proper thumb but this is compensated for by their tail, which is remarkably useful and has a bare underside at the tip to give it a good grip around branches. This tail is known as a prehensile tail! The rest of their body is covered in glossy, black fur.
This species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ the IUCN redlist with the population facing threats such as habitat loss.