Zoo has record breeding season for monkeys

Six infants, whose sex has not been recorded yet, have joined the two groups of 18 capuchin monkeys at Edinburgh Zoo.

First-time mother Penelope gave birth to the youngest of the six on July 29 ; the oldest of the new arrivals is 10 months.

The capuchins live with common squirrel monkeys in two mixed communities in the east and west sections of the zoo’s Living Links Centre.

Charlotte MacDonald, head keeper of primates at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “This has been a really exciting time for our brown capuchin groups – not only have we seen more births than ever, but also new first-time mums too.”

After a gestation period of six months, capuchin monkeys give birth to a single baby and, in rare situations, twins.