“At birth, the Guereza monkeys are completely light. The bright white color will remain for the young one for several weeks. Then, their ears and hands start to turn black first. Soon, the face will follow, and within a year, they will acquire the full adult coat,” says head primate keeper Martin Vojáček.
A group of three Kikuyu Guereza monkeys has been on display at Prague Zoo since this February. Nearly 13-year-old male Bzik arrived in Prague from Gdańsk, Poland, while the two females – five-year-old sisters Lebamba and Nyianga – came from France. The young one is often cared for by Nyianga as it is common in Guereza troops for multiple females to take care of the young. However, the keepers hope that she will soon have her first offspring.
Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
Guereza monkeys are dietary specialists – they live exclusively on fresh tree leaves. During the winter months, the keepers at Prague Zoo provide them with branches that were frozen during the growing season. They particularly enjoy willow or acacia and do not shy away from blackberry or rose.
Currently, Guereza monkeys are not endangered, although they face habitat loss and hunting pressure in their native Central Africa. The Kikuyu subspecies from Kenya is recommended for breeding by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
