Monkeys make move to Cornwall

A SMALL and highly vulnerable species of monkey has been relocated to a Cornwall zoo in an attempt to save the endangered species.

The two Goeldi’s monkeys – native to South America – have seen their numbers decline in the wild because of habitat destruction.

This energetic pair are now settling in at Newquay Zoo after arriving from a similar establishment in France.

Senior keeper Dave Rich said: “This highly active and vocal species are to be part of a mixed exhibit and will hopefully go on to breed here in the near future. This is the first time we have housed Goeldi’s monkeys and is the first stage towards creating a wider awareness of threatened primates in the wild.”

Their move is to be part of a European captive breeding programme. The creatures are small – with bodies nine inches long – and are found in the Amazon basin.