By Adam Dutton via SWNS
Chester Zoo has welcomed a family of ultra-rare monkeys as part of a breeding program to help save the critically threatened species from extinction.
The four Roloway monkeys, one of the world’s most endangered species of primates, have arrived at the zoo for the first time in 50 years.
Adorable photos show mum Masaya and dad Grizu, along with their two young sons Anum and Ilo, exploring their new enclosure at the attraction in Cheshire.
It is hoped the quartet will form a key part of an international conservation breeding program which is working to save the species from dying out.
Conservationists are trying to bring them back from the brink of extinction with only a few hundred remaining in the wild.
The species has seen a staggering 90 percent population decline and just eight individuals are being cared for in two zoos in the UK – including the four at Chester.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), lists the species as critically endangered – the highest conservation priority in need of urgent attention.
Mike Jordan, director of animal and plants at the zoo, said: “Roloway monkeys are very, very rare and it’s a real privilege to join the international effort to safeguard these wonderful monkeys.
“The family of four have settled in nicely and can now be seen exploring the treetops in their new home.
“In the last few decades alone, Roloway monkeys have experienced a devastating crash in numbers, losing around 90 percent of its population.
“Because of the rapid rate at which they’ve disappeared, they’re also rarely found in conservation zoos.
“In total, there are just eight individuals being cared for in only two zoos in the UK – including the four here in Chester – so they really are incredibly special.
“With these charismatic monkeys now facing imminent extinction in the wild, it will be the role of conservation zoos like ours to do everything possible to help them to recover.
“We’re hopeful that, with the skills and expertise of primatologists here in Chester, this family unit will continue to grow and play a vital role in their continued survival on the planet.”
Once found in the lush forests of West Africa, campaigners say Roloway monkeys have been propelled to the very brink of extinction in the last 30 years.
Habitat loss, driven by deforestation and agricultural expansion in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, along with poaching for their fur and meat, has seen them almost disappear altogether.
They are now inside the top 20 of the world’s most endangered primates and conservationists at the zoo say they will do “everything possible” to ensure their survival for future generations.
Roloway monkeys are striking-looking primates with dark body, white chests and distinctive white ruffs around their faces.
In Ghana, they’re called “Efiai aighéhi” which translates to “the monkey with a white beard”.
Roloway Monkey Fact File:
Latin name: (Cercopithecus roloway)
Habitat: Primarily found in small fragments of forests in West Africa, including Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
Main threats in the wild: Habitat loss due to deforestation, illegal hunting, and the pet trade.
Notable characteristics: Black fur with distinctive white ruffs around the face, social animals living in groups, omnivorous diet.
