29/10/2010
It has 10 fingers and 10 toes but it is another body part – or lack of – that has keepers at Wellington Zoo baffled.
Chimpanzee Samantha, 26, gave birth on Wednesday afternoon.
But zoo spokesman Matt Kennard said the proud mother was still so protective of her third baby yesterday that zoo staff had been unable to get close enough to find out if it was a boy or a girl.
"It's just so cute."
Mother and baby were already settled back with the zoo's other 10 chimpanzees, who were also protective of their new arrival.
"It's a really social group anyway." The baby will be named once staff find out its sex.
Its father, Sam, 33, is the oldest chimpanzee at the zoo. The baby will stay at the zoo, and is the first chimpanzee to be born there since Beni, who is now three.
