Bouncing babies at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park

Bouncing Babies at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park (and leaping, and climbing, and swinging . . . . )

With the breeding season underway, keepers at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park have their work cut out as they try to keep up with a bumper crop of babies.

Surrounded by many exotic and unusual species in the Discovery Centre, a baby white-faced saki monkey is amongst the newest arrivals. Born last month, the youngster shares its enclosure with its mother, father, brother and some golden-headed lion tamarins. At the moment, baby spends most of its time on mum's back, but has just started to make a few timid explorations of its own - not too far away mind you!

The youngster's mother and father arrived at Whipsnade in 1997, aged four years, from Twycross and London Zoos respectively. The two youngsters may one day move to other collections to be paired with unrelated animals for breeding. Saki monkeys have fluffy hair and a long, bushy tail, which makes them look larger than they actually are. Only the male has the white face which gives these saki monkeys their name.

Visitors to Whipsnade may also spot a baby silvery marmoset in the trees above their heads, see troops of fluffy ducklings or explore the park in the company of free-roaming wallabies with little joeys in their pouches. They can match their height against Jamie the baby giraffe - who had outgrown most visitors on the day he was born at 6 feet tall. Five shaggy yak babies are also keeping their parents on their toes in the Passage Through Asia, while the dwarf crocodile youngsters are snapping for attention!

For futher information/photography, contact Miranda Kennett-Scott: 01582 872171

www.whipsnade.co.uk