Irish wildlife park seeks name suggestions for endangered baby monkey - have your say!

An Irish wildlife park is seeking name suggestions for a new baby monkey born last month. 

Fota Wildlife Park announced the birth of a Francois' langur monkey (Trachypithecus francoisi) on the 22nd of November to mother Mei and dad Shinobi. 

Recent weeks have seen Mei, Shinobi and baby venturing outdoors, with the youngster often visible through the viewing window of their purpose-built house in the Asian Sanctuary. 

Lead ranger at Fota, Teresa Power, said, "We hope the birth of this baby will help raise awareness about the critical need for conservation efforts for the François’ langur. There is a wild population of 1,400–1,650 in China and fewer than 500 left in Vietnam.

"As a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) we will be participating in their 2024 'Vietnamizing' conservation campaign, drawing attention to threats to the country’s amazing biodiversity and animal species, such as the François’ langur, whose wild populations are currently under pressure from habitat loss, hunting, and poaching.

"Since the trio of Mei, sister Kaili and adult male, Shinobi arrived from their respective zoos in late 2022 the animal care team here have been working with them to carefully integrate them into the breeding group.

"We have been keeping a close eye on the group in the hope that they would successfully breed. The anticipation has been building as we monitored Mei’s behaviour over the months leading up to the birth and we are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of this endangered baby monkey at Fota Wildlife Park." 

She continued: "Kaili, the proud aunt, has taken on the role of babysitter, this is what’s known as ‘allomothering’, where the females in the group will help to care for and raise the young.

"The baby is already keeping the group on their toes, trying to copy the adult behaviours. The youngster is amusing the animal care team as it tries to copy it’s mother Mei, especially when it comes to grabbing snacks during mealtimes!" 

The new baby's coat is expected to change from orange to black during the next few months. 

Mother Mei, born in 2016, and her younger sister Kaili, who was born in 2018, made their journey to Fota Wildlife Park from Twycross Zoo in the UK in September 2022 as part of a European Endangered Breeding Programme (EEP). 

Joining them shortly after was Shinobi, born in 2016, who arrived from ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in the UK in December 2022. 

You can help name their new baby (and be in with a chance to win a Conservation Annual Pass) here.