Woburn Safari Park – A tiny Guianan squirrel monkey baby has been born to first time mum Willow and dad Murphy, delighting keepers as they discovered the newborn clinging tightly to Willow’s back in the early hours of 15th November.

Keepers first suspected Willow was pregnant when Murphy suddenly became unusually attentive towards her. Regular weigh ins then showed a steady weight increase, followed by a visible baby bump and darkening fur around Willow’s eyes, a typical sign of pregnancy in squirrel monkeys.

The birth is especially meaningful because Willow herself was born at Woburn and raised by her mother Tye, the troop’s matriarch. Murphy, who joined the troop in 2024 as the new breeding male, shares Willow’s calm temperament, making them a peaceful and well matched pair.

Senior Animal Keeper, James Fryer, said: “It’s extraordinary to see Willow become a first-time mum. She gave birth in the early hours of 15th November, and we arrived to find her confidently caring for her newborn. This is a brilliant achievement for the EEP (European Endangered Species Programme) breeding programme, especially following Murphy’s introduction last year as the troop’s new breeding male.”

Guianan squirrel monkeys come from the rainforests of South America and face threats from deforestation and the illegal pet trade. Although they are not officially classed as endangered, their wild numbers are trending downwards. Breeding success at Woburn supports the European Endangered Species Programme by helping protect genetic diversity and safeguard the species’ future.

Squirrel monkeys are highly intelligent, social primates that live in large troops and use more than 25 different vocalisations to communicate. Their diet includes fruits, insects and small vertebrates.

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