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[Josh Greenman <joshg1973 AT yahoo.com>]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/3670416.stm

Zoo takes on rare monkey pairing
 
A Cornwall zoo is the new home for a rare type of monkey which staff hope 
will take part
in a breeding programme. 

Sierra, a female black and white western colobus monkey, has been moved to 
Newquay Zoo
from Paignton Zoo. 

The species is threatened in its natural west African rainforest habitat 
because of
deforestation and hunting. 

But before Sierra can get involved in the programme, the zoo is awaiting the 
arrival of a
male monkey from Urfurt Zoo in Germany. 

However, the animal will have to spend six months in quarantine at Paignton 
Zoo before
going to Newquay. 

The zoo has been part of the international breeding programme for several 
years. 

The loss of a female in its monkey group set in motion a series of animal 
moves with
other zoos across Europe to continue the programme. 

Zoo assistant director Stewart Muir said: "As with all breeding programmes, 
we need to
ensure that we have an unrelated group to breed from. 

"As babies are born and adults die of old age, we need to move individuals to 
other zoos
and bring in unrelated monkeys to develop further the group here at Newquay 
Zoo." 

Such animal movements have to be planned very carefully and can take time. 

Stewart Muir said the zoo was looking forward to Sierra being joined by a 
potential mate
after his quarantine at Paignton Zoo. 

He said: "Once this happens we will have two females and one male which will 
then form
the core of what we hope will be another successful breeding group here at 
the zoo."