Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On September 1st, a baby Diana monkey, listed on the IUCN Red List, was born at the Moscow Zoo. Staff are not handling the baby to avoid stressing it, so the newborn's sex is still unknown: the genitals of these primates are hidden by the inguinal fold.
"For the first few days, his mother, Fiona, carried him constantly, never letting go for a minute. After two weeks, the cub began to slowly crawl off her and explore his surroundings. Now he spends a significant amount of time with his mother, who continues to carry him, but also climbs the bars on her own, walks on the shelf, and sometimes plays with his older sister, Viola," said Svetlana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow Zoo.
For the first weeks of its life, the baby fed exclusively on its mother's milk. Now it is gradually beginning to try other foods: iceberg lettuce leaves and pieces of fruit. The Moscow Zoo's diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, green branches and leaves, as well as boiled chicken, eggs, cottage cheese, and yogurt. The baby observes the adult animals and samples all the food within its reach.
The newborn is cared for solely by its mother, a female named Fiona, who was born at the Novosibirsk Zoo in 2008 and moved to Moscow at the age of six. Two years later, a male named Tuwei arrived in the Russian capital from a zoo in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Together, they formed a pair, and seven years ago, the two monkeys had an offspring—a female named Viola. She now shares an enclosure with her parents and the newborn in a family group. When Viola was about two months old, her father took over her care—a behavior rarely seen in the wild among Dian monkeys. The male kept the female away from the infant and cared for and guarded it alone.
Now the family group can be seen daily in the Primate House pavilion.
The Diana monkey is considered one of the most striking members of its family. Its coloring is striking and contrasting: its back is covered in gray and chestnut fur, its paws and tail are black, and a white stripe runs down its thighs. The rump and inner thighs are tan or cream-colored, and its muzzle is black, framed by white fur and a beard.
These primates live in small groups consisting of one adult male and several females. Gestation in Diana monkeys lasts five to six months, resulting in the birth of a single infant (twins are extremely rare). The infant is born with its eyes open and its body covered in fur. It clings tightly to its mother's fur with its arms, holding on to her belly.
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