Trentham Monkey Forest Welcomes Three Newborn Barbary Macaques

Trentham Monkey Forest is excited to announce the arrival of three newborn Barbary macaques, born within the past few weeks.

The three adorable babies were born to their proud mothers high up in the Staffordshire trees, overnight, as the monkeys live exactly how they would do in the wild. The woodland consists of 140 free-roaming Barbary macaques, who live freely in the beautiful 60-acre forest within Trentham Estate all year round.

The birth of these babies is a testament to the successful breeding program and our commitment to the conservation of this endangered species of primate. The Barbary macaque is the only species of monkey native to Europe, and their numbers in the wild have been declining rapidly, with their population now isolated to small areas in two North African countries; the mountainous regions of Morocco and Algeria.

Monkey Forest conservationists are said to be “over the moon” with this small but important win for the endangered species, months after Sir David Attenborough highlighted the struggles of the wild Barbary macaque in one of his latest BBC Dynasties II series episodes.

Visitors to Trentham Monkey Forest can now see these playful babies and their families as they explore their forest home. 

Monkey Forest Park Director, Matt Lovatt, says "We are thrilled to welcome these new additions to our Monkey Forest family. They are already proving to be incredibly popular with our visitors, who are enjoying watching them play and interact with their monkey families. Barbary macaques are a highly endangered species, with less than 8,000 in the wild, so every birth that takes place at the park is very special."

Monkey Forest is dedicated to educating visitors about these fascinating creatures and their importance in the ecosystem. With its successful breeding program and conservation efforts, the park is helping to ensure the survival of the Barbary macaque species for generations to come. 

Trentham Monkey Forest works closely with organisations that help protect the wild Barbary macaques in Morocco and Algeria as well as other primates that are facing threats in the wild.