Our family of cherry-crowned mangabeys can be spotted in Monkey Heights.
These beautiful primates are found in swamps, mangroves and valley forests on the Atlantic coast of West Africa.
Mangabeys are omnivores, eating various fruits, nuts, seeds, grasses and insects.
Interesting facts!
- The scientific name of this species, Cercocebus, means ‘tail monkey’ in Greek.
- Males of the species are known to emit a loud bark that serves as an alert signal to keep other troops away.
- After a gestation period of 5 to 6 months, a female gives birth to a single infant.
Conservation
Cherry-crowned mangabeys face habitat destruction of their native range. The species has been classified as Endangered by the IUCN in the last couple of years due to the wild population decreasing.
This species is present in a number of protected areas, including the Omo Forest Reserve in Nigeria, where Paignton Zoo and our charity Wild Planet Trust support a conservation project for forest elephants. Being one of only a handful of UK zoos that houses cherry-crowned mangabeys, our individuals are also part of the EAZA ex-situ breeding programme (EEP).