Zoo celebrates the birth of endangered baby drill monkey

Bristol Zoo says it's celebrating "the pitter patter of tiny primate feet" following the birth of an endangered drill monkey.

The new arrival is just three weeks old, weighs approximately 800g, and was born to mum Bimba and Dad Rourke.

It's the first surviving baby to be born to mum Bimba - who staff at the zoo say is doing a "fantastic" job of looking after it.

Father Rourke is also proving to be a very attentive and protective father, shielding the baby from the curious advances of another young drill who is very interested in the baby.

Keepers say this is exactly the kind of behaviour a father should be displaying and it is very encouraging and positive for the group dynamic.

The baby, thought to be a girl, is the fourth drill monkey to be born at Bristol Zoo.

Drills are one of the rarest and most endangered primates in Africa. The population has declined by 50 per cent over the past 30 years and is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

What is a drill?

• A short-tailed monkey up to 70 cm long

• found in lowland and coastal forests of Western Africa

• live up to 28 years

• form groups of around 20-30 animals, where one male will father most of the young

• they eat by foraging mainly on the ground, but climb into trees to sleep at night