HAIR’S A BRIGHT SPOT OF BABY JOY FOR MELBOURNE ZOO

MELBOURNE Zoo has welcomed a baby endangered spider monkey, born safely on Saturday afternoon, June 16.

Although exhausted, first, time mum Isobella is displaying superb maternal instincts and hasn’t required any assistance from primate keepers or veterinary staff.

Keepers were present at the birth, which was swift and complication-free.

The pint-sized primate is the first spider monkey to be born at the zoo in seven years.

Spider monkeys are endangered in their native South America due to hunting and deforestation.

females give birth to only a single baby every two to five years. Young monkeys depend on their mothers for about 10 weeks.

First-time mum spider monkey Isobella dotes on her new baby, born on Saturday at Melbourne Zoo. Pictures: RICK HAMMOND, ZOOS VICTORIA, DAVID CAIRD