A quiet start for zoo's baby howler

A SIX-WEEK-OLD male black howler monkey was being a little shy as he went on show at Edinburgh Zoo yesterday.

This is the first baby for mother Meryl and father Kiko, who was rescued after being illegally captured in the wild.

The birth is also the first in the group since the death of Molly, the zoo's previous female black howler monkey, who died in 2008 shortly after giving birth to son Diego.

Lorna Hughes, head keeper for primates, said: "After the sadness attached to Diego's birth we are thrilled that this time the youngster will have its mum to rear him."