Chester Zoo Welcomes Recently Born Baby Chimpanzee
The love and bond between mother and a new baby are beautiful things to witness. Chester Zoo, located in Cheshire, England, welcomed a new baby recently, which was born as surprised guests watched on.
The zoo shared the video on Tuesday, February 6th, shortly after mom Alice delivered her baby boy. The birth was also celebrated by the chimp's family, who welcomed him and congratulated mom. Watch the first clips of Alice and her new bouncing baby boy...she looks so happy!
The baby is definitely a cute little guy, and mom looks very happy. News reports called the birth "rare" since chimpanzees are endangered and nearing extinction, and births in captivity are low. Other reports shared that mom and baby are both doing well and have been spending a lot of time together with the family but also alone, bonding with each other. @Chester Zoo's commenters were also excited about the news of a new arrival. Many of them are planning to visit the zoo this weekend, hoping to catch a glimpse of the adorable baby chimp.
Related: Baby Chimpanzee Plays in a Bouncing Chair Just Like a Human Toddler
Fun Facts About Baby Chimps
I realized after seeing this cute video that I don't really know much about baby chimps, but after some quick research, it seems that they are a lot like human babies. When a chimp is born, it's called an infant, and just like a human, it is helpless and depends on its mom for everything.
Mom carries the baby on the front of her for the first 3-6 months. The baby starts becoming more independent at that point and will learn to sit up on its own around 5 months old and will start standing at 6 months. As baby continues to grow, it will start riding on mom's back or walking on its own, but always with mom very nearby, never further than about 16 feet away. At 3 years of age, baby will start becoming more independent and will leave its mother's side.
Baby will nurse until 3 and half to 4 years old, and at that point will begin eating the same foods that the rest of the family eats, which includes seeds, fruit, honey, flowers, insects, and leaves. They will learn to hunt, and occasionally will eat smaller monkeys or other animals.
After seeing Alice's new baby, I want a baby chimp of my own! While it sounds like a lot of fun to have a chimp as a pet, they are actually wild and dangerous animals. They're very intelligent, but also unpredictable. I think I'll just keep watching this adorable baby chimp grow from afar. Congratulations to Mama Alice and to the zoo!
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
