Keepers at Bristol Zoo Gardens are celebrating their newest arrival – a baby black howler monkey.

Born to parents MacGinty and Amarillo on January 29, the youngster weighed little more than half a pound at birth. Newborns cling tightly to their mother's long hair and can be difficult to see, but at two months old, the new arrival is much more alert and visible to zoo visitors.

The new baby male monkey has been named Darwin after the evolutionary biologist whose bicentenary is celebrated this year.

Mel Gage, assistant curator of mammals at Bristol Zoo, said: "The birth of this baby is great news for Bristol Zoo as well as the UK captive breeding population.

"The baby is doing very well and is gaining strength. It will suckle from its mother until about eight months old, but it will soon start nibbling bits of solid food too."

The baby joins a family of four howler monkeys at Bristol Zoo and is the third baby to MacGinty and Amarillo, who are proving to be very attentive parents.

Black howler monkeys are part of a European breeding programme for which the zoo holds the European Studbook, making it responsible for the population management programmes for this species.

Black howler monkeys come from the forests of South America. They have loud, howling calls which can be heard up to 5km away.

For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens, visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk or call 974 7300.