Paignton Zoo welcomes pair of nocturnal monkeys

A zoo in Devon has welcomed two rare breed nocturnal monkeys.

Paignton Zoo said the pair of grey-handed night monkeys, Diego, 11, and Baroo, 8, arrived from a zoo in Wales.

The monkeys will share their new home with Myrtle the armadillo and gradually transition to a nocturnal schedule, said the zoo.

Staff said early mornings and late afternoons would offer the best chance of seeing them active.

“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Diego and Baroo to our zoo family,” said Nadia Gould, mammals team leader.

“Grey-handed night monkeys are fascinating creatures that most people never get the chance to see.”

She added: “Their nocturnal nature and vulnerable conservation status make them particularly special, and we’re proud to play a role in their conservation through the European Endangered Species Programme.”

The zoo said the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the species as vulnerable.

They are native to the forests of Colombia and Venezuela, but wild populations have declined due to habitat loss.