Forget balloons, Bristol's got some new baboons!

Credit: Dave Betts

Meet Hobbit, Hercules, Harshit, Hector, Kito and Kidame - the newest arrivals at Bristol Zoo's Wild Place Project.

The six new inhabitants are gelada baboons - an all-male group that have arrived from Switzerland. The troop are now settling into their new, purpose-built enclosure called Gelada Rocks.

The gelada range in age from six (Kito) to 14 years old (Hobbit). At their previous home they lived in separate families but within the same large troop, and as such are now forming a new hierarchy in their new group.

They are protected from the extreme cold of their mountain habitat by the characteristic cape of thick fur. Credit: Dave Betts

Before opening to the public, the animals had two weeks to get to know their new home.

Throughout this time they have been closely monitored by keepers and vets to ensure they are settling in well and bonding well as a newly established group.

In the wild, geladas live in the mountains of Ethiopia, sleeping at night on ledges on the steep cliff faces. Credit: Dave Betts
The external paddock area consists of grassland, boulders, rocky outcrops and trees, to provide shade, secluded areas and plenty of grass. Credit: Dave Betts

Although often referred to as gelada baboons, these monkeys are not true baboons, but can be easily recognised by the cape of long hair over the shoulders of the males and the bright red skin on the chest of both sexes.

They are the last surviving species of a once widespread group of grass-grazing primates. Credit: Dave Betts