New White-faced Saki Monkey!
The movement of animals from zoo to zoo happens on a regular basis, and last week we did a monkey swap!
The good zoo community can easily transfer animals if they are part of BIAZA (British and Irish Aquaria and Zoo Association) or EAZA (European Aquaria and Zoo Association). In these communities we are safe in the knowledge that our animals are going to a good new home! So last week our female saki monkey went to a new zoo and in return we got a new female. This week sees her final quarantine health check by our vet Matt Brash. Once all the results of this final check come back we will be able to introduce her to her new partner and her new island.
So can you tell the new female and male apart? In some species of primate, such as ring-tailed lemurs, it is very difficult, however with white-faced saki monkeys it is very easy as the difference is considerable. Adult males are black with a striking white face. The females however have a greyish face and only a narrow strip of white between the eye and the mouth. Both males and females have long coats and a bushy tail which cannot be used as an extra limb. Here in Flamingo Land, our white-faced saki monkeys can be found on the island in the South America section of the zoo – on the walkway opposite the striking flamingos. You have to be vigilant – these tree-living monkeys are fast, zipping up and down the branches of the trees on their island. They are also very shy, and little is known about their behaviour in the wild. However, if you do catch a glimpse you’ll probably be surprised how their large size does not stop them leaping from tree to tree. In the wild a jump of 10 metres has been recorded! For this reason, native South Americans call them the “flying monkeys”.
They share their island here in South America with emperor tamarins, a small monkey with a long white moustache. Next time you are strolling through the leafy green walkway of South America, take an extra few minutes to try your luck at catching a glimpse of these fantastic monkeys – you will not be disappointed.
