Extract from ABC News
Rockhampton Zoo has welcomed the birth of a chimpanzee after a horror year that included a miscarriage, the deaths of two other primates and a fatal salmonella outbreak.
Key points:
- A baby chimpanzee was born at Rockhampton Zoo on Wednesday evening
- The newborn has been welcomed by the zoo's chimpanzee population including one who recently gave birth to a still-born chimp
- It's good news after 40 exotic birds were euthanised earlier in the year
Zookeepers had been anxiously awaiting the overdue arrival when mum Leaky, 26, gave birth at 8:30pm on Wednesday night.
Zoo team leader Blair Chapman said the newborn was healthy, but they were yet to determine the sex of the baby chimp.
He said second-time mum Leaky and dad Alon were doing well.
"Leaky is very relaxed and she has shown the keepers her baby," he said.
"He was seen inspecting the baby very soon after birth."
Welcome to the gang
The birth is the third in four years at the council-owned zoo after Alon and Leaky's daughter Capri was born in February 2018 and a baby boy, Gandali, arrived in February last year.
Rockhampton Parks, Sport and Public Spaces Councillor Cherie Rutherford said the young chimps were not about to let the new one steal all the attention.
"The keepers have seen Capri riding on Leaky's back.
"The baby is on the front and Capri's on the back, so she's saying, 'Don't forget about me at the moment'."
Three-year-old Capri celebrated the newborn's arrival in an unusual way.
"She's quite excited in having new toys but that's her; that's what Capri does."
The enclosure is expected to remain closed for several days to allow the community of chimpanzees time to adjust before reopening to the public.
School holiday arrival
Rockhampton Zoo is part of an Australian and New Zealand breeding program that aims to increase chimpanzee populations.
The new arrival has boosted Rockhampton Zoo's chimpanzee numbers to eight.
"We're just so happy and it couldn't be a better, time leading into Christmas and of course school holidays," Ms Rutherford said.
Boost after bad news
The good news takes the edge off a terrible year for Rockhampton Zoo.
In March, a salmonella outbreak forced staff to euthanase 40 exotic birds in the zoo's aviary enclosure.
The following month, staff nursed beloved chimpanzee Samantha through the grief of her second stillborn baby.
In July, zookeepers euthanased Australia's last remaining lion-tailed macaque after the death of her companion.
Ms Rutherford said zookeepers were monitoring Sam to see how she responded to the loss of her baby.
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