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Black spider monkey born at Artis in Amsterdam, 13 March 2018
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Photo: Artis
Thursday, 15 March 2018 - 17:20
Video: spider monkey born in Amsterdam zoo
A baby black spider monkey was born at Artis in Amsterdam on Tuesday afternoon, the zoo announced on Thursday. The newborn monkey is doing well - it has already drunk and is holding firmly to its mother with hands and feet.
The black spider monkey is classified as a vulnerable species, due to the loss of its habitat. Over the past 45 years the the number of spider monkeys decreased by 30 percent.
Artis now has a total of six spider monkeys, three females and one male. The gender of the newborn is not yet known.
In Suriname, where they originate, black spider monkeys are also called 'forest devils' - the adults have light colored faces that sharply contrasts with their black fur. They are social animals and live in groups.