Primate Baby Boom at Howletts Wild Animal Park

At Kent’s most successful wild animal park, Howletts, the keepers are celebrating two new arrivals to the primate section- a gelada baboon and a dusky langur infant.

The keepers of the park, which is currently home to five gelada baboons and a total of dusky langurs, have confirmed that the dusky langur baby is a male. It is still too early to tell if the gelada infant is male or female, but it hasn’t stopped the youngsters from being spotted by keen eyed visitors!

Matt Ford, Head of the Primate Section said: “We’re so pleased with the latest additions to both the gelada family and the dusky langur group. The gelada baby is particularly special, as this is our second birth in the gelada group. Both youngsters are thriving and bonding well with their family members.”

The park is currently working with the conservation charity The Aspinall Foundation and is involved in European breeding programmes with both species of primate.

Matt added, “Geladas are not true baboons. They are the last surviving species of a once widespread group of grass-grazing primates and are the only surviving member of their genus. Dusky langurs are sometimes described as spectacled langurs because of the white markings around their eyes. Both species of primate are unfortunately declining numbers in the wild, due to habitat destruction.”

In a further development, Howletts have announced that they will run a poll via the parks’ social media pages to name the male dusky langur infant. Followers of the parks’ social media channels will be able to vote from a selection of three names – the name with the most votes will be chosen. 

The wild animal park will be open every day during October half term and visitors will be able to spot the latest arrivals, enjoy a variety of talks, feeds and animal enrichments, alongside a host of other activities.

For further information including opening times and entry prices, please visit www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts