Endangered Baby Proboscis Monkeys Born in Zoo
2009-7-10 12:45
Speaking of zoos, three baby Proboscis Monkeys born at a zoo in Indonesia's East Java debuted to the public this week.
Locally known as Bekantan, with its distinctive pendulous nose, long tail and orange and grey coat, the species is native to the island of Borneo.
The three babies were born late June and one in early July from mothers who live at the zoo's enclosure. They have yet to be named.
The zookeeper at Surabaya Zoo says the babies are healthy.
[Sukadi, Surabaya Zookeeper]:
"We received these monkeys from South Kalimantan. The total number was 34 and we got three babies recently and that brings the number to 37.”
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species lists the proboscis monkey as a threatened species.
The monkey's worldwide population is estimated at 6,000.
Their numbers have shrunk due to loss of habitat and hunting.
Surabaya Zoo houses a breeding colony for the primates, which the zoo hopes will help draw attention to the plight of the rare monkeys.
