Rare Baby Monkey 'Buzz' in ZSL London Zoo is Named After Apollo 11 Astronaut Edwin Aldrin; View Adorable Pics of Mangabey Primate

ZSL Zoo in London is currently celebrating the birth of a rare baby monkey to mum Achimoto and father Lucky. The adorable newborn has been named “Buzz” after Apollo 11 Astronaut Edwin Buzz Aldrin, honouring the 50th anniversary of the historic first manned moon mission. According to reports, the white-naped mangabey primate was born following a five and a half-month gestation period. The adorable pictures of the three-week-old Buzz have captivated the animal numbers online. And its birth is also a positive sign for ZSL Zoo’s breeding programme to secure the European Endangered Species (EEP). Muscular Monkey from Finland Will Give You All The Monday Motivation to Hit the Gym! 

The London Zoo is striving to save the species, which is known as one of the rarest in the world, from extinction. Buzz’s birth has taken the zoo’s population of the endangered species to eight. “One small step for man, one huge leap for man-gabey kind! Meet our adorable white-naped mangabey, Buzz,” tweeted ZSL London Zoo while sharing the adorable picture of the newborn tightly snuggled on mum’s chest.

Meet Buzz

Here Are Some More Pictures of Buzz

The primate was named after Edwin Buzz Aldrin who was the second man to step on the moon after Neil Armstrong. Mangabeys are excellent climbers and agile jumpers with their long tails and slender limbs. The baby monkey’s arrival spurs hope for the animals which are only found in the wild and some parts of Africa. As per ZSL Zoo, these species are under threat from habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade. They are hunted for their fur and bushmeat.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2019 03:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).