At Terra Natura Benidorm we have welcomed the birth of a capuchin monkey (Sapajus apella). The zookeepers have not given a name to the little baby yet, as they have not been able to sex it because during the first months of life they avoid handling it so the mother doesn´t reject the baby.

At birth, this species usually weighs around 200 grams. Since its birth, it has been kept under constant observation by our team of veterinarians and zookeepers. The general appearance and the way in which the baby is held by the mother is analysed, as this can give an indication of how the capuchin monkey is doing.

On the other hand, the natural behaviour of the mother and baby is monitored to check if it suckles frequently and whether it is attentive to its surroundings. The newborn remains clinging tightly to the mother’s belly or back, and its appearance and behaviour are completely normal.

The mother feeds and grooms it while it is with the group of capuchin monkeys, carrying out other daily activities. The most common in this species is for the young to be carried by the mothers, although there may also be situations of comadreo, in which other females or young in the group pick up the young and carry it around.

If the baby capuchin loses contact with its mother, it senses that it is in danger and emits alarm calls for any member of the group to respond, bringing it to safety. The new baby behaves in a natural way, which stimulates the mother’s attention and she does not move away from it at any time.

In this case, the mother, called Miri, combines the care of her newborn with the other capuchin monkey born last year. So when she goes away from the older one to look for food, she immediately returns to it so that it does not feel abandoned. At Terra Natura Benidorm we currently have a group of 12 capuchin monkeys in total.

The conservation of this species is not particularly endangered according to the IUCN, although it is included in Annex II of CITES. Visitors will be able to see them in the American area. The baby will feed on its mother’s milk for almost a year, although it will start to eat solid food from its mother a little earlier. They are very sociable animals so when there is a birth, the members of the clan come to meet the newborn.

Capuchin monkeys are commonly used as pets because of their friendliness. The Veterinary of the park reminds us that ” this should not be promoted, because it goes against their dignity and wellbeing, as primate are not suitable for living as pets. They need to live in a habitat with the conditions of their natural environment and with a family group in order to avoid psychological problems”.