DENVER — The Denver Zoo welcomes its first Mandrill baby in more than a decade earlier this month.
Kumani gave birth to a healthy, female on Friday, May 10. The baby, who her caretakers named Kesi, is the first for seven-year-old Kumani and her mate, 11-year-old Jelani.
Kumani has already proven to be a great mom, providing Kesi with the care and attention she needs to thrive, the zoo's animal care team said.
Jelani came to the Denver Zoo in 2013 followed by Kumani, who arrived in 2018 at the recommendation of the Species Survival Plan. At the end of 2018, the animal care staff suspected Kumani might be pregnant, which was later confirmed through an ultrasound.
Kesi’s arrival marks the first mandrill birth at the Zoo since 2003.
Mandrills, which are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, are found in the rainforests of central West Africa. You can spot mandrills by their bright blue and red face, and long teeth. Males are larger and usually have brighter coloring. They’re a social species and travel in groups known as “troops.”
Guests are encouraged to visit Kesi and the whole mandrill troop in the Congo Basin area in Primate Panorama.
The best time to catch these colorful primates and catch a glimpse of Kesi is first thing in the morning or at lunchtime, when they are foraging for food.
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