Last August 26, Bioparc Valencia zoo in Valencia, Spain, was blessed with the birth of a baby primate, named Akira, which is a part of the endangered drill species. There has been a limited number of birth for this species due to habitat loss and poaching. In fact, the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Endangered Species considers the species' case as "critical" because of the alarming decline in their birth rate which is why each birth is considered a blessing.
Akira's parents, Rafiki and Abuja, look after Akira as she tries to explore her surroundings. As a protective mother, Abuja keeps Akira under control while they are in a manmade riverside forest of Equatorial Africa, which is their natural habitat. Abuja's protective behavior may be a trait of the mothers of the species as they are known to be the "caregivers" while the fathers are the ones who compete for dominance and the right to breed.
Video credit: Bioparc Valencia/Zenger
#Monkey #Animals #EndangeredSpecies #drill