Mantled guerezas (Colobus guereza), or simply guerezas, appeared in Feldman Ecopark not so long ago. These African monkeys arrived from a private zoo and are currently in quarantine. These are two young, 2.5-years-old males. The animals undergo veterinary examination and get used to their new home. The visitors to Feldman Ecopark will be able to look at these heat-loving residents of equatorial Africa in spring.
“Mantled guerezas appeared in our animal collection for the first time. This species is not the rarest one, although they are also under the threat of extinction in their native land because of hunting and people’s activities. As for Ukraine, these monkeys with beautiful lush fur are unusual here, as not many zoos are able to boast about them. But we will make everything possible to find couples to each of our guereza males,” Feldman Ecopark’s deputy director of zootechnics Valeriia Ivashchenko told. “The new ones are currently adapting to their new home and meet their new keepers. They feel fine and are active. Their daily diet consists of special well-balanced fodder for herbivorous primates and exotic fruits. These guys love bananas, grapes and pomegranates very much.”
It should be noted that the mantled guerezas, like the other congeners, are unique among the primates of the Old World: they have four fingers on the hand, and the thumb is reduced. The Greek word kolobus means “mutilated” or “maimed.” However, this does not prevent them from moving quickly on trees and grabbing the food. The hair of the mantled guerezas is mainly black, but the sides and the tail have stripes of long silky white hair creating the “mantle.” The tail is long and fluffy, and the lower part of the tail is also white. Because of their beautiful fur, these animals were almost exterminated on the cusp of the 19th and 20th centuries. Luckily, after the World War I, the fashion of monkey fur ended. However, even now, these exotic furs are sold to the tourists in the countries of Central Africa, while the meat of mantled guerezas is used as food by the local population.
It should be reminded that Feldman Ecopark’s animal collection is the largest in Ukraine and consists of nearly 200 animals of 30 species. The total of more than 2,000 representatives of fauna of nearly 300 biological species is kept in the Regional Landscape Park.
