The South American House at Dublin Zoo is celebrating the birth of a rare monkey.
The male white-faced saki, who has yet to be named, was born on April 30th and weighs just 150 grams.
Sakis are generally found in the tropical forests of Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. The species is rare but not endangered in the wild.
Team leader Eddie O’Brien said the new arrival’s mother has several other offspring and is taking excellent care of him.
“At the moment he is feeding from his mother and in about four weeks he will start to eat solids of mainly fruit and vegetables.
“For the next four months, his mother will carry the little guy close to her chest. In time, he will become stronger, gain more independence and start exploring the habitat on his own.”
Sakis are normally shy creatures but can become aggressive if their territory is threatened - arching their backs, growling loudly and shaking their hair and tree branches.
The male of the species has a distinctive white face, while females can be identified by a bright stripe of golden hair on their face. Both have long furry coats with thick, shaggy hair.