Number of zoos kept (current and former during the holding period):
A 1 zoo
B 2-5 zoos
C 6-10 zoos
D >10 zoos
Time period kept:
1 < 1 year
2 1-5 years
3 6-10 years
4 11-20 years
5 > 20 years
* Species successfully bred
♱ Dead end (in case of species gained)
↑ Species gaining popularity (in case of species gained)
A 1 zoo
B 2-5 zoos
C 6-10 zoos
D >10 zoos
Time period kept:
1 < 1 year
2 1-5 years
3 6-10 years
4 11-20 years
5 > 20 years
* Species successfully bred
♱ Dead end (in case of species gained)
↑ Species gaining popularity (in case of species gained)
Old world monkeys - Cercopithecidae
164 species across 23 genera
71 species kept this century (43%)
With 164 species this is by far the largest primate family and it is far too big to cover in one post. Therefore we will cover this family in three separate posts.
Guenons and allies - Cercopithecini
# Species kept 1-1-2000: 23
# Species kept currently: 19 (-4)
# Species gained: 1
# Species lost: 5
Out of 35 different species (which includes a split patas monkey) the majority of this group has been kept in Europe this century and a majority is still kept, though numbers are on the decline. These numbers exclude putative holdings of Tantalus monkey (Chlorocebus tantalus), this species seems to be misidentified a lot and unless someone can give clear proof of a tantalus monkey in Europe this century, I will treat them as Chlorocebus spec.. Both pictures on Zootierliste that should show tantalus monkey, show different species or hybrids. An interesting case is the red-bellied monkey (Cercopithecus erythrogaster) which was in recent decades long only held in Zoo Mulhouse, which kept this species 1990-2013. The species was then briefly lost from Europe until Monkey World, Wareham, received a confiscated pair in 2018. This pair bred in 2019 and 2020.
@gentle lemur Red-bellied monkey were lost but gained again this century
Species gained but lost
Southern talapoin - Miopithecus talapoin B4
Zoos in general seem to have a problem with correctly labelling their talapoins, which has given the impression that southern talapoins have been more common in the past or are even still around. The two species are however easy to tell apart and there are only 2 zoos that have kept southern talapoin this century. Talapoins are confiscated relatively often and it is not unlikely that the single talapoin that was kept in Bioparc Valencia until 2012 had that origin. Palmitos Park in Maspalomas on the Canary Islands has also kept this species at least 2010-2017. Both zoos kept their southern talapoin with their more common sister species the northern talapoin.
@Maguari Southern talapoins can easily be identified with their dark nose
Species lost
Crowned monkey - Cercopithecus pogonias A5*
The only zoo to keep this species was Twycross Zoo from 1992-2018. Twycross received 3.2 crowned guenons from Rennes University in 1992-1993 and bred this species regularly between 1994-1999. By 2003 only a single animal remained, which passed away in 2018.
Wolf’s monkey - Cercopithecus wolfi B4*
This guenon is still around in the USA, but has always been a great rarity in European zoos. Zoo de la Palmyre kept this species at least 1992-2001 and bred this species in the 90s too. Monkey Park in Los Cristianos also kept a single animal at least in 2001. It is unclear when exactly the species disappeared from Europe, but it is likely in the early 2000s.
Bale green monkey - Chlorocebus djamdjamensis B5*
Another very rarely kept monkey, which disappeared from Europe in 2010. This species was kept and bred in Zoo Jihlava, Czechia, between 1978-2009 and a single confiscated animal was kept 2009-2010 in Zoo Bojnice, Bratislava, which also kept the species until 2007.
Malbrouck monkey - Chlorocebus cynosuros B5*?
In recent decades this species was only kept in 2 Portuguese zoos. Zoo Lisbon kept this species until 2009 and Monte Salvegem in Montemor-o-novo kept this species until at least 2014, but not anymore in 2021. These green monkeys are always difficult to assign to any given species in captivity, but given the clear links between Portugal and Angola, I am inclined to treat these holdings as true Malbrouck monkeys.
@lintworm One has to travel to Ethiopia again to have a chance at seeing Bale green monkey
Species gaining popularity
Northern talapoin - Miopithecus ogouensis
These pocket guenons are on the rise this decade. Where at the start of the century the species was mostly confined to Spain, it is now spreading all over Europe. Part of the reason is the steady stream of confiscated animals making their way into zoos. Their small size and possibility to mix with other species make it a relatively easy species to add to zoos. No zoos yet keep the big groups that are known from the wild, but Apenheul is looking to change that.
Roloway monkey - Cercopithecus roloway
This was long an extremely rare species, confined to a few French zoos. Just before the start of the 21st century Zoo Heidelberg and Twycross Zoo obtained this species and this was the starting point for a slow but steady spread across Europe. With 15 current holders this is a clear record and the species is breeding regularly in multiple zoos. Being attractive, critically endangered and with the WAPCA having a clear in situ conservation component, are enough reasons for zoos to want to obtain this species. This has somewhat come at the expense of the very similar, but less endangered, diana guenon (Cercopithecus diana), but that species is still more numerous in Europe, mostly because Zoo Ostrava keeps over 20 diana guenons.
@Rustydon Roloway monkeys are undeniably good-looking, just as most guenons
Species losing popularity
Red-tailed monkey - Cercopithecus ascanius
An always scarce species that is decreasing further, if it is replaced at all, it is usually with more endangered species. This species is down to a few holders, so it is unclear whether this species has a future.
Mona monkey - Cercopithecus mona
A species that used to be relatively common, but breeding has all but ceased in most zoos and EAZA zoos are phasing out this species. This species is kept mostly in Eastern Europe these days and might well be on their way out.
Owl-faced monkey - Cercopithecus hamlyni
While this is an EEP managed species the population has declined quite a bit this decade and only a few zoos are still breeding this species. While this species could hang on in Europe, it is apparently hard to turn things around. Though there was a low point a few years ago when only 2 French zoos still bred this species, but in recent years both Zoo Leipzig, Zoo Antwerpen and Zoo Berlin had some breeding success. With around 20 individuals the population is vulnerable.
Lesser spot-nosed monkey - Cercopithecus petaurista
This species seemed to be on their way out with the original population declining to a single individual in Zoo Bojnice. Though in 2022 Zoo Hamerton imported 1.2 animals from the US, so while on the decline, it isn’t a dead end yet, but all depends on Hamerton Zoo and whether they can start breeding this species too.
Greater spot-nosed monkey - Cercopithecus nictitans
Always an uncommon species, but currently down to 4 holders and hardly any recent breeding. This species will likely be gone from Europe in 20 years time.
Grivet / Vervet - Chlorocebus aethiops / Chlorocebus pygerythrus
In the past all green monkeys were lumped into a single species and this means that most of the population probably consists of hybrids, though pure (looking) animals are certainly around. Combined with their non-endangered status this is more and more becoming a species of non-EAZA zoos. In a way this is a shame as they are perfect and fitting additions to any African savanna zone and can be mixed with hoofstock. But given that patas monkeys (Erythrocebus spec.) are already struggling to find new holders, it seems most zoos don’t even want to consider primates in their savanna areas.
@Therabu Will owl-faced monkeys be able to cling on?
Dead ends
Allen’s swamp monkey - Allenopithecus nigroviridis
An unusual African monkey that has always been rather rare in Europe with little breeding. At the start of the century it was still kept in about 4 different zoos. The decision was made to ship the remaining 7 or so animals to the US in exchange for golden-bellied mangabeys (Cercocebus chrysogaster). Whereas some golden-bellied mangabeys arrived, I am not sure any Allen’s swamp monkey went to the US. It seems most animals in Europe just died of old age. Currently a single female in Zoo Warsaw is all that is left in Europe.
Blue monkey - Cercopithecus mitis s.l.
One of the most common guenons in Africa, but not anymore in Europe. This species (group) is a taxonomic minefield and most of the European population consists of (sub-)species hybrids. In recent years this species was actively phased out in the main zoos still holding this species, with now only animals left in 2 Eastern European zoos.
@ro6ca66 Allen's swamp monkey are on their last legs in Europe
Progress
14/22 orders completed
39/106 families completed
154-158 species present in 2000
156 species present in 2023
45-48 species gained since 2000
45-48 species lost since 2000
