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Troop of Endangered Monkeys Split Parenting Duties for Baby Macaque Born at UK's Chester Zoo

A troop of critically endangered Sulawesi crested macaque monkeys were “sharing parenting duties” for an adorable baby monkey born on May 16 at the Chester Zoo in England, according to a press release from the zoo issued on June 2.

The zoo said fewer than 5,000 crested macaques remained in their natural habitat on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and continued to faced threats from farming, deforestation, logging, mining, and hunting.

The baby monkey, born to mother Rumple and father Mamassa, would boost international conservation efforts, the zoo said.

The Sulawesi crested macaque monkey is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Mark Brayshaw, Head of Mammals at Chester Zoo, said, “Sulawesi crested macaques are highly sociable animals that live in large groups, and so the new baby is currently being passed around by mum Rumple to several other females, who are all sharing parenting duties, which is great to see," according to the press release. Credit: Chester Zoo via Storyful

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