Colobus monkey arrives via C-section at Chehaw zoo
Chehaw officials announce the birth of new Colobus monkey
By Brad McEwen
ALBANY — The Chehaw park family welcomed its newest member on the cusp of the Christmas holiday when local veterinarians delivered a healthy, Colobus monkey via cesarean-section (C-section) last week.
According to Chehaw’s Director of Community Engagement Morgan Burnette, zookeepers had been keeping a close eye on pregnant Arusha, a long-time resident of the zoo’s Colobus monkey exhibit, when they noticed the early signs of the birthing process on Dec. 23.
Under careful scrutiny the staff determined something was wrong, and Arusha was taken to the park’s regular veterinarians office, Dockery, Odom & Deriso. Vets there determined the unborn monkey was in breech, with its feet and buttocks positioned to be delivered instead of the head. The vets rushed Arusha into surgery and were able to deliver the 10-inch-long female monkey via a successful C-section.
“There have been other births (at Chehaw) where keepers or veterinary staff have had to intervene,” Burnette said Friday of the frequency with which C-sections need to be performed. “We try to let the animals have every opportunity to live as naturally as possible, including giving birth on their own.
“However, the safety and well-being of our animals is our top priority, and staff was ready to intervene when necessary. Thanks to thorough observation by her keepers, and with the help of great veterinary partners, Arusha was able to safely deliver a healthy baby girl.”
The infant, which Burnette said won’t receive a name until zookeepers have had a chance to observe her personality a little longer, is the offspring of Arusha, a 24-year-old Colobus who has been at Chehaw since 1994, and Obi, a 9 year-old who has been at the park since 2014.
Burnette added that the successful birth of the infant Colobus is a positive achievement on multiple levels as it means the park has new life and, in this particular case, the Colobus species is bolstered, which is something Chehaw has been trying to assist with for some time.
“Births are always one of the most exciting times for anyone at a zoo, but to us it’s more than just being able to see adorable babies bouncing around,” said Burnette. “This species is considered in decline, as they are threatened by loss of forest habitat across equatorial Africa, and are also hunted for their meat and fur.
“This birth is the result of a recommendation from the Colobus Species Survival Plan coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SSPs provide breeding recommendations to maximize genetic diversity and appropriate social groupings, with the goal of ensuring the long-term survival of the captive population and health of individual animals.”
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