FIRST EVER ULTRASOUND on Barbary macaque at UK Monkey Forest REVEALS she is PREGNANT!
Trentham Monkey Forest has successfully carried out its first-ever ultrasound examination on a monkey called ‘Pretty’ and discovered that she is in fact, PREGNANT!
The video of the scan shows Pretty’s adorable bundle nestled safely within her womb and confirms her to be the first monkey mum of the season for Monkey Forest.
Pretty was visiting the RBB Vets as part of the forest’s breeding programme. Pretty gave birth last summer at the age of 8, the equivalent of around 30 years old in human years, the same as the average mum age in the UK!
Whilst there, the team was desperate to see whether she was again, an expecting monkey mum, so asked for the ultrasound scan to be performed and were over the moon to see a beautiful bundle appear!
Every year, Trentham Monkey Forest aims for between 6-10 babies, to prolong the survival of the highly endangered Barbary macaque – a species that is sadly declining in its native Morocco & Algeria.
There are said to be less than 8,000 Barbary macaques left in the wild and over 50% of the wild population has decreased in the last 40 years.
Conservationists at the forest aim to educate, inform, and raise awareness for the species, and visits to the park help fund impactful conservation projects and research studies to protect the world’s threatened primates.
The monkeys in Trentham live in the ancient Staffordshire woodland all-year-round, this preserves the natural behaviours of the primates, potentially facilitating reintroduction to the wild.
Visitors from all over the UK come to visit and see the monkeys in this unique environment and have an immersive monkey experience, particularly in the late spring/early summer when the babies are born.
The babies are born exactly how they are in the wild year-on-year high up in the trees overnight.
The team are thrilled to hear about Pretty’s healthy growing baby as usually, the first they hear or see of baby news is when a monkey mum carries her new-born bundle down from the trees in the morning when feeding the monkeys breakfast.
Park Director Matt Lovatt said.
“This is the first time we have ever carried out an ultrasound on one of the Barbary macaques we protect here in Trentham, and we’re elated to discover that she is pregnant.
With less than 8,000 Barbary macaques remaining in the wild, the new arrivals we hope for each year play a vital role in ensuring that these fascinating primates are around for future generations to see and appreciate.”
Barbary macaques are an endangered species, as classed on the official IUCN Red List.
The primates face several significant threats in their natural habitat but mainly suffer by being taken as babies for the illegal pet trade.
The park is asking for help in guessing the gender of the baby and if you get it right, you could win a PRIVATE TOUR of the 60-acre Monkey Forest when it arrives!
To be in with a chance of winning head to Trentham Monkey Forest’s Mother’s Day post and have your best guess!