Two female patas monkeys, born this spring at Rosamond Gifford Zoo, are being hand-raised by zoo caretakers after their mothers, Iniko and Kasi, showed insufficient maternal instincts. In a press release, the zoo explains that Iniko, who gave birth to Sisu on April 26, and her sister Kasi, who delivered Mushu on May 11, were unable to care for their newborns.
Given the low survival rate of patas monkeys in the wild, the zoo’s primate specialists intervened. They successfully hand-raised Iniko when she was born under similar circumstances in 2020.
The babies are currently being cared for in the Animal Health Center ICU, where they are receiving round-the-clock attention. As they grow, the zoo is carefully introducing them to the rest of the patas troop, a process that involves visual introductions and gradual socialization with other troop members. The ultimate goal is to integrate Sisu and Mushu fully with their mothers and the rest of the troop.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo invites visitors to view the baby monkeys daily at the Animal Health Center ICU from 10:15 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 2:45 p.m. The zoo also encourages the community to follow their social media channels for updates on the progress of Sisu and Mushu as they continue to grow and prepare for public exhibit with the rest of the patas monkeys.
