Masaya, a 15-year-old Roloway monkey has given birth just months after pioneering surgery carried out by zoo vets and surgeons from the University of Liverpool saved her foot from amputation.
A 15-year-old rolloway monkey named Masea has given birth to a healthy infant at Chester Zoo, a significant success story for the species. Masea, who has been a mother of three, arrived at the zoo in 2023 and had been struggling with a recurrent foot condition, which vets suspected was caused by an old thorn injury. To address the issue, Masea underwent a complex surgery last summer to remove a large mass from her foot. This procedure, performed by veterinarians at Chester Zoo in collaboration with surgeons from the University of Liverpool, was a historic effort, marking the first time such an intricate operation had been conducted on the species.
Thanks to the success of the surgery, which managed to preserve most of her toes, Masea was able to maintain normal behaviors, including parenting. The infant, named Lagertha after a Viking queen, is now over four weeks old and about the size of a tennis ball. Zoo staff report that Masea is actively engaging with her offspring, demonstrating a full recovery. Rolloway monkeys are rare in the United Kingdom, with very few breeding females in Europe. With fewer than 2,000 of the species remaining in the wild in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, the successful intervention and subsequent birth highlight the critical importance of veterinary innovation.
Such actions contribute significantly to the survival of endangered species and support enhanced breeding programs across Europe, offering hope for continued conservation and public education about these vulnerable animals.
