Blackpool Zoo helps find new monkeys

The popular resort attraction has donated more than £30,000 to Proytecto Mono Tocón, which aims to protect and conserve the San Martin titi monkey and its natural habitat.

The organisation stumbled across the new species in forests along the Urubamba River in central Peru, leading them to name it the Urubamba brown titi monkey.

Blackpool Zoo, which is home to red titi monkeys, has been supporting Proyecto Mono Tocón for seven years.

The Zoo’s managing director Darren Webster, who coordinates the Red Titi European Endangered Species Programme, said: “Our support of conservation work for animals across the world is vitally important, especially for species that are on the brink of extinction.

“Numbers of the San Martin titi monkey have declined dramatically over the years due to high deforestation rates as well as the illegal Peruvian pet trade.

“We were thrilled to hear the exciting news about the discovery of the Urubamba brown titi monkey.

“It’s great that our money is making a real impact to the conservation of titi monkeys and it is a huge reward for the efforts of the project’s team.

“We will continue to support this vital cause and we are all looking forward to hearing updates about the new species.”

The scientific name for the newly discovered Urubamba brown titi monkey is Callicebus urubambensis.

As its common name suggests, the species has a brown body with a jet-black mask.

Each morning the monkey announces its presence with a song like call that projects across the forest.

Titi monkeys generally tend to live in forests near water and are known for their ability to jump easily from branch to branch.