Dudley Zoo keepers celebrate birth of endangered Sulawesi crested macaque

Jasmine, 14, gave birth to the little girl a week ago – with keepers now thinking of a name for the zoo's newest resident.

Dad is eight-year-old first-time father, Tambo. Keepers say both mother and baby are doing well.

The birth is also extra special for lower primates acting team leader, Jodie Dryden, as she was Tambo's former keeper at Drusillas Park, in East Sussex, where she helped care for him from birth.

Jodie, who is the UK regional coordinator at Selamatkhan Yaki – a Sulawesi crested macaque conservation project in Indonesia – said: "I remember Tambo’s birth and watching his parents coo over him, so it’s lovely to see that little boy all grown up and starting a family of his own here at Dudley Zoo and Castle with Jasmine, who is already an experienced mum.

“Dad’s don’t usually play a part in the upbringing of babies and won’t have a lot to do with them until they are older, but he is taking his new role very seriously and is being very protective of both mum and baby and we have also spotted him grooming the baby while she’s still on mum, which is really positive behaviour.”

Sulawesi crested macaque's are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, with the species facing a reduction in numbers by 90 per cent over the last three decades. Threats including habitat loss due to farming and deforestation, as well as the illegal bush meat trade and the pet trade, have contributed to this.