According to ISIS, updated on the 27th May, both Belfast and RSCC in Kent each have 1.2 Red-backed bearded saki Chiropotes chiropotes, a really exciting addition to the UK primate collection, and they look to be the only ones in Europe, the only other captive group is at the Henry Doorly zoo in Nebraska. Can anyone confirm this, and do you know where they came from?
So are they on display yet, and have they come through quarantine?, and whereabouts are they in the zoo? And i will personally stump up a prize for the first pic lol (you know how generous we Scots are )
Still have a number of months of quarantine to undergo and most likely won't be on show until next year as its better not to move animals in the winter! They really are a joy to work with! Very capuchin like in behaviour!
Where did they come from? Where the import part of a larger conservation program? Any info would be very welcome. Truly interesting with a new species like this!
What a exciting new species to have in UK zoos, I thought the same too on raeding the post. I would imagine that they have been sourced from some kind of a rescue centre in south america where they have been taken in as young animals(and therefore cannot be released). Merely speculation but probably the most likely scenario.
The sakis all came from a private facility in Guyana where they were captive bred. A conservation initiative is currently being developed to raise awareness of the species in its home country and protect habitat. An EEP is to be started and we plan to work closely with the small numbers held in America and South Africa also.
Good stuff! I find it interesting that the RSCC are trusted with such a rare species, especially as primates can be quite demanding and require both experience and specialist knowledge. Not that i am saying they shouldnt be trusted, is just the parks is still relatively in its infancy. I think that the park is doing good for UK zoos, most zoos have kept pretty much the same species as each other for years, and i think the RSCC is shaking them up a bit and certainly is bringing many new species and uncommon zoo animals to the UK. Lets hope they keep up the good work!
I'm fairly sure that the owner kept rare species on a private basis for some time before taking over the Sandwich site. Didn't he used to have Clouded Leopards in his back garden? Not that this is a qualification for keeping primates, of course, but it does suggest a rather highers baseline of what you might call 'institutional experience' than might be expected from a new zoo.
I have tried to find a picture of these monkeys online , without success . Has anyone else found one ? Would be very interested to see what they look like .
This is an interesting point of view. Does it though go against the foundation that zoos need to cooperatively focus their resources in order to sustain species for the long term? The finite resource in zoos is enclosure space. That space is precious and must surely be used for species being cooperatively managed, where regional collection plans have identified a need to keep and breed that species. Without doubt the RSCC has a stunning diverse collection, which I am sure many zoos would be envious of. As a visitor it must be great, even better as a zoo enthusiast. But, are all these weird and wonderful 'one of a kind' species taking up valuable space for other more 'commonly' kept species?
6 Red-Backed Bearded Sakis Captive Breed in Guyana?! Can somebody tell in wich institution? This monkeys are very hard to breed in captivity! In Brazil we have a good captive population of Chiropotes chiropotes, Chiropotes satanas, Chiropotes albinasus and Chiropotes utahickae and breeding results are very poor and Im not talking that this animals are in substandard zoos but in Primatological Centers with big success in breeding rare primates and in this institutions the results are almost null! I hoppe that im wrong with my feeling about this question!
I suppose it is question of husbandry and naturalistic enclosures and behavioral studies to initiate compatible pairings. In which way do you think these Chiropotes are different from the commonly kept white faced sakis in western zoos
I think both monkeys have specialized diet: titis eat leaves, and Chiropotes sakis nuts, seeds and tough fruit. Neither thrives on a generic zoo diet of fruit and vegetables. About "small institution". If I were to choose, I would rather pick small specialized collection over a big zoo for caring for a difficult small animal. Examples of Jersey zoo, small aviaries etc etc.
