Critically Endangered Monkey Defies the Odds With New Baby After Surgery
Bias ratings based on AllSides + Ad Fontes Media. Agreement % = sources covering this story. Always read multiple sources and think critically.
A rare roloway monkey has welcomed a new baby after surgery saved her foot and protected her ability to care for offspring.
For one of the world’s rarest monkeys, the birth of every infant matters. That’s why conservationists at Chester Zoo are celebrating the arrival of a baby roloway monkey just months after her mother underwent a pioneering operation that saved her from a potentially life-changing foot amputation. Masaya, a 15-year-old roloway monkey, had a golf ball-sized mass removed from her foot last summer in a complex procedure performed by zoo veterinarians and surgeons from the University of Liverpool’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital.
Despite finding no previous records of the surgery being carried out in the species, the team successfully saved all but one of her toes. Now, Masaya has given birth to a daughter named Lagertha, who primate specialists say is already showing signs of her mother’s resilience. Rachel Burrow, a veterinarian and lecturer at the University of Liverpool, played an important role in both the CT scan and the surgery.
She said: “This was the last chance to save Masaya’s foot before amputation. Working with primates is completely different from my usual patients, who are typically cats and dogs, and it was a real privilege to care for such a rare animal. It’s great to see the surgery was a success – she’s comfortable, active, and using the limb well.” Zoe Edwards, a primate keeper at Chester Zoo, said: “Masaya is a very experienced mum and she’s parenting magnificently.
Lagertha is only a few weeks old and is very dinky, but already curious about the roloway monkey habitat and inquisitive about us. “The fact Masaya’s foot has healed so well is a huge relief. If she’d had an amputation, we’d have been left with real questions about whether she could hold her offspring or continue with her normal behaviors.” Lagertha is Masaya’s third daughter, and her arrival is an important moment for the species.
Zoe added: “Chester Zoo is one of only two places in the UK that roloway monkeys can be found, and Masaya is very important – not just to her family, but to her whole species. There are only a few breeding females in zoos in Europe.”
Think About This
What questions does this story raise for you? Talk with your family: Why does this news matter? Who is affected? What might happen next? Is there anything you can do?
- Ask your child: “What do you think scientists discovered about critically endangered? What part surprised you most?”
- Explore together: Search for “critically endangered” on NASA Kids’ Club, DK Find Out, or National Geographic Kids for more kid-friendly facts.
- Critical thinking: Science findings can change as more research is done. Ask: “How would scientists test this? What would prove them wrong?”
KiddieDaily is built for families — balanced sources, no agenda, no ads. Always read the original source and think for yourself.
Original Sources
🔍 Want to verify this story? Check it on Google Fact Check Explorer →
More stories: Kid News · Archive · Fact Check