Visitors to meet newest addition at Drayton Manor zoo
Visitors will have the opportunity to have the first look at the newest addition to Drayton Manor Zoo in the spring bank holiday.
Primate keepers are celebrating the birth of the Black-Headed Spider Monkey on March 20 because the breed is classified as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
She was born to parents Snarfy and Lizzy but does not have a name yet so the park will release details soon on how to enter a competition to name her. They are looking for a name that begins with an 'L'.
It comes ahead of Love Your Zoo Week celebrations from May 26 to June 3 where there will be a variety of activities on offer at the 15 acre zoo.
Chris Mitchell, Head of Zoo Operations at Drayton Manor Park, said: “We always enjoy Love Your Zoo week here and being able to continue to share our values with the park’s visitors.
“In recent news the world was left devastated by the loss of the last male Northern White Rhino, Sudan. It is with that in mind that we remember the pivotal role that zoos play in helping to protect animals that are currently struggling to survive in the wild.
"That is why the birth of our young Black-Headed Spider Monkey is such a celebration and a really proud moment for the keepers that know and love her as much as her parents do.’’
As part of British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ annual Love Your Zoo Week (BIAZA), visitors can learn about 100 species of animals from across the globe.
Visitors can explore the Love Your Zoo trail for the chance to win a return ticket for a family of four and there will be ‘4 for £80’ tickets on offer on selected dates if they are booked in advance.
At the Conservation Cart, visitors can learn about the animal kingdom and learn about the zoo's conservation work and the animal charities it raises money for.
There’s also a Love Your Zoo Central stand where guests can put themselves to the test to see if they can leap as high as a tiger or flap faster than a hummingbird.
Drayton Manor’s mascot, Rory the Lion, will also be out and about in the zoo as well.
