Bolivian Gray Titi Monkey Born at Buttonwood Park Zoo

The first baby born at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in 2020 is a Bolivian gray titi monkey. Born on January 12, this is the third birth for 11-year-old mom, Madeira and 5-year-old father, Crumpet.

This Bolivian gray titi monkey family has been growing since 2017, with the initial birth of son Biscuit, who is now 2 and a half years old. In December of 2018, daughter Mila was born, evening out the family dynamics. For the first several months, the new baby will mostly remain on the back of its parents or siblings. Zoo staff will be able to determine gender once the new addition spends more time with its family.

There are less than 55 Bolivian gray titi monkeys at 18 Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institutions in North America. These tree-dwelling monkeys weigh around two to three pounds as adults, have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years and are active during the day. Members of the group exhibit social bonding by sitting side by side and twining their tails. There is a strong bond between adult mating pairs; they stay close and carry out activities together, including infant care. The new baby will spend approximately 80% of the time on the back of dad, Crumpet.

In the wild, this species is found in tropical forests throughout central Bolivia and into Rondônia in eastern Brazil. Although their population in the wild is decreasing and agricultural activities have resulted in considerable habitat loss, Bolivian gray titi monkeys are reasonably tolerant of habitat disturbance and are adaptable to a variety of environments throughout its relatively wide range.

Crumpet, Madeira, Biscuit, Mila and the new baby reside in the Zoo’s innovative Rainforest, Rivers & Reefs exhibit.