Families visiting Drusillas Park near Alfriston this summer are in for an extra special treat, as the popular Sussex zoo celebrates the arrival of 20 adorable baby animals across a wide range of species.
The exciting baby boom includes six playful ring-tailed lemurs, twin binturongs, two Colombian black spider monkeys, dwarf mongoose twins, a Goeldi’s monkey, a white-faced saki monkey, two pygmy marmosets and four lively prairie dog pups.
A Father’s Day surprise
The newest arrival is a Colombian black spider monkey, born on 21 June, providing a perfect Father’s Day surprise for proud dad Mo.
The tiny youngster, who has yet to be named, joins older sister Kendall, who was born earlier this year and named by the public after keeper Megan Kendall. Keepers say mum Jamundi is caring beautifully for her newest baby, who spends most of the day clinging tightly to mum while beginning to explore the world around them.
Rare monkey marks four generations
Another conservation success came on 17 May with the birth of a rare white-faced saki monkey to first-time parents Twiggy and Pires.
The arrival is particularly significant as it represents the fourth generation of the same saki family to be born at Drusillas. The family line began when great-grandmother Requena arrived at the zoo in 2000, highlighting the park’s long-standing success in caring for this fascinating species.
Lemur family grows
The park’s ring-tailed lemur troop has also expanded dramatically.
Experienced mum Eve welcomed twin boys in April – the first lemur babies born at Drusillas in 13 years – before new mums Periwinkle and Frankie added another four youngsters in June. Periwinkle gave birth to triplets, while Frankie welcomed a single baby.
Visitors can often spot the tiny lemurs hitching a ride on their mums’ backs, snoozing together or learning to leap around their habitat under the watchful eye of dad Pip.
Conservation success for vulnerable species
A baby Goeldi’s monkey was born on 4 May to parents Violet and Neville.
The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, making every successful birth an important milestone for conservation. Guests can usually spot the youngster tucked safely beside mum as it gradually becomes more confident exploring its enclosure.
Plenty of playful youngsters
There’s no shortage of entertainment elsewhere around the zoo.
Twin dwarf mongooses, born in early May, have become visitor favourites thanks to their energetic games, often seen enthusiastically kicking stones around their enclosure like tiny footballers.
Nearby, four curious prairie dog pups can be seen popping in and out of their burrows and play-fighting with one another.
Earlier in the year, the zoo also welcomed two pygmy marmosets, the world’s smallest monkey species, whose tiny size and energetic antics continue to delight visitors.
Mischievous binturong twins
The park’s much-loved binturong family has also grown.
Twin siblings Sabang and Bunga, born on 2 January, are already proving to be a handful for mum Dora. Named by the public, their Indonesian names mean “forest” and “flower”.
According to their keepers, the mischievous pair have been following in the footsteps of older sister Boots by enthusiastically destroying plants around their habitat – much to the frustration of Drusillas’ gardening team.
Supporting wildlife conservation
Head Keeper Gemma Romanis said:
“It seems like there are babies everywhere at the moment – it’s clear our animals have been keeping busy!
“One of the most rewarding parts of our jobs is seeing successful births. Many of our animals are part of European breeding programmes that help maintain healthy populations of threatened species, so every new arrival plays an important role in conservation.
“We’re also hopeful there could be even more new arrivals in the coming months, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for the pitter-patter of more paws and claws.”
Whether you’re hoping to see baby lemurs clinging to their mums, tiny monkey infants taking their first adventures or mischievous binturong twins causing chaos, Drusillas Park offers plenty of reasons for a memorable family day out this summer.
