The Newquay Zoo has witnessed the birth of a primate on its premises. The primate is a white-throated capuchin.
White-throated capuchins are native to Central and South America. Furthermore, the baby was born to mother Irazu and father Zaito. The little infant has two siblings, Benito and Baru. According to the press release of the zoo, the baby is unnamed and the sex is still unknown.
Moreover, the baby clings tight to its mother’s back. It will continue to do this for the next three months. This is the usual time for the infant to grow old enough. The white-throated capuchin grows very slowly for a primate. Its mother will look after it for the first couple of years. Thus, the mother will be very protective of her young during this time period.
Newquay zoo is excited about the new arrival. The zoo staff claims the monkey family is in good health. They also believe that the mother is very much experienced. After all, she has tended to the baby’s siblings before.
Daniele Wilkins says that once the baby grows older, the zoo will then determine its sex. As a result, they will also be able to name it. Daniele Wilkins is the senior primate keeper at the Newquay Zoo.
The white-throated capuchin also has had its official entry on the zoo’s website. The monkey is an omnivore. This is similar to other primate subspecies. Fruits, leaves, invertebrates and insects tend to make up most of its diet. The zoo feeds them according to their dietary needs. Of course, the invertebrates are a staple in their diet. This is necessary for extra protein.
Surprisingly, the primates are rather intelligent. Using tools in the wild is a common activity. Fighting and sourcing food are two reasons why they use them. They have been even known to medicate themselves. The zoo reports that the monkey has been seen rubbing certain plants on its body as a form of herbal medicine. Wow!
This monkey is certainly far ahead of its time!