Safari park welcomes new baby to troop of endangered Barbary macaques
- Little Hayley’s arrival will boost Blair Drummond’s conservation efforts as numbers in wild fall to 8,000
- Baby was born on May 13 and ‘already shows signs of being adventurous and confident’
- Troop is one of the park’s most popular attractions after arriving from Gibraltar in 2014
She's a cheeky wee monkey who’s already proving a huge hit with zoo visitors this summer.
Clinging to her mother’s back, the cute baby macaque, named Hayley by keepers, is a welcome addition to Blair Drummond Safari Park.
Endangered Barbary macaques have dwindled in number to only 8,000 in the wild, so the troop at the park, near Stirling, plays a crucial role in conservation efforts.
Little Hayley was born on May 13 and her parents Orcus and Phil, are both dominant members of the park’s troop, which arrived from Gibraltar in 2014.
Here’s looking at you – the little monkey enjoys the view from on high
Keeper Carolyn Booth said: ‘Hayley is still very small but already shows signs of being adventurous and confident with her keepers.
‘Social status is extremely important within macaque groups. They live in highly structured hierarchies often based on lineage to the dominant female.
‘With both her parents being high up in the hierarchy, little Hayley should be in a comfortable position growing up. Unlike other macaque species, male Barbary macaques are active parents and play a significant role in rearing young.
The new arrival snuggles in under the watchful eyes of her mum and dad Orcus and Phil
Little Hayley takes it easy as one of her parents strolls across the drive-thru road
‘Visitors can often spot mum or dad snuggling Hayley in the macaque drive-thru.’
The macaque area is one of the most popular areas of the park, allowing visitors to drive through the reserve and observe the animals up close.
Blair Drummond Safari Park supports the Barbary Macaque Awareness and Conservation project through their Link to the Wild Initiative, fundraising to help wild macaques.
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