Blackpool Zoo’s Support Contributes to Discovery of New Species

Blackpool Zoo’s continuous support of a Peruvian conservation project has contributed to the discovery of a new species of titi monkey.

Proyecto Mono Tocón, whose main aim is to protect and conserve the San Martin titi monkey and its natural habitat, discovered the new species in forests along Urubamba River in Central Peru, leading them to name it the “Urubamba brown titi monkey”.

Blackpool Zoo, which is home to Red titi monkeys, has been supporting Proyecto Mono Tocón for seven years and the zoo’s Managing Director, Darren Webster, coordinates the Red Titi European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).

More than £30,000 has been donated to the Peruvian organisation by Blackpool Zoo.
Darren Webster, said: “Our support of conservation work for animals across the world is vitally important, especially for species that are on the brink of extinction.

“Numbers of the San Martin titi monkey have declined dramatically over the years due to high deforestation rates as well as the illegal Peruvian pet trade.

“We were thrilled to hear the exciting news about the discovery of the Urubamba brown titi monkey, it’s great that our money is making a real impact to the conservation of titi monkeys and it is a huge reward for the efforts of the project’s team.

“We will continue to support this vital cause and we are all looking forward to hearing updates about the new species.”

As its name suggests, the Urubamba brown titi monkey, genus name, Callicebus urubambensis, has a brown body with a jet-black mask. Each morning the monkey announces its presence with a song like call that projects across the forest