Life goes on at Fota Wildlife Park. 

Even while the gates were closed to the public for ten weeks between October and December, there was plenty going on behind the scenes, including the arrival of a brand new resident.

The Park has announced the birth of a black-and-white colobus monkey (Colobus guereza), born on October 30th to parents Freya and Juggs, and is now inviting the public to help choose a name for the newest member of the colobus family.

Black-and-white colobus baby monkey. Photo: Sinéad Donnachie, Fota Wildlife Park.

Mother Freya, born in December 2017, arrived at Fota Wildlife Park in January 2022 from La Palmyre Zoo in France. Father Juggs, born in November 2007, has been a resident at Fota since June 2011, having transferred from Belfast Zoo as part of a European breeding programme.

The new arrival has one older sister, Frida (born in August, 2024), who has already been spotted “babysitting” her younger sibling. While the baby is becoming increasingly active and mobile in recent weeks, it still sports the distinctive white infant coat, which will gradually develop into the species’ striking black-and-white colouring as it matures.

“The arrival of the young colobus, whose gender is not yet known, has been met with great excitement.” said Lead Ranger, Teresa Power.

“The baby’s white, curly coat will slowly darken into the striking black-and-white coat for which the species is known over the next few weeks and months.”

The newest member of the colobus monkey family can be seen at Fota Wildlife Park in the shared colobus and meerkat habitat, located just inside the main entrance. To be in with a chance of winning a year-long Conservation Pass to Fota Wildlife Park, submit a name suggestion with a relevant meaning or link to the species through the online form at fotawildlife.ie/news.