Visitors to the Tropical Forest at Franklin Park Zoo will notice a tiny new face with the recent arrival of a De Brazza’s monkey baby.

The baby, born on June 7, to first-time parents Kiazi (female) and Kipawa (male), is the first De Brazza’s monkey born at Franklin Park Zoo. The baby, who sex is not yet known, has been nursing and holding on tightly to its mother.

“This is a very exciting addition to the Tropical Forest, and we are thrilled to share the news of this birth,” said Erica Farrell, Assistant Curator of the Tropical Forest. “As with any new birth, we are closely monitoring the mother and baby. Kiazi is being very attentive, and the baby appears strong and healthy.”

Zoo New England is a participant in the De Brazza’s Monkey Species Survival Plan, which is a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSPs help to ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered, and enhance conservation of these species in the wild. This birth is the result of a recommended breeding between Kiazi and Kipawa.

De Brazza’s monkeys, which are common in central Africa including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Gabon and Central African Republic, generally occupy forested regions close to rivers and waterways, including dense swamp forest, seasonally flooded areas, lowland tropical forest, and mountain forest up to elevations of 2,200 meters. They exist predominantly in the closed canopy and prefer dense vegetation. In the wild, these territorial monkeys live in small groups of four to 10 individuals with a dominant breeding male, adult females and their offspring. Females nurse and care for their young until they become independent around 1 year of age.