Baby mandrill born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed a baby mandrill on July 25, to first-time father, Linus, and mother, Scarlett, Disney announced on the Disney Parks Blog.

Disney’s veterinary team has not yet been able to determine whether it is a boy or girl, because mother Scarlett has been spending a lot of time bonding with the infant and keeping the baby close to her belly. Even during the baby’s neonatal exam, the baby was being held so tight for bonding that the team could not make a determination,  Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks wrote.

Once the sex is determined the baby will be named. Penning said he will make that announcement on his Instagram, @drmarkatdisney.

Mom has been taking the baby out to their habitat on Kilimanjaro Safari already for short appearances with other members of the mandrill troop.

Mandrills are actually the largest species of monkey in the world. The are reclusive reclusive primates that live in the rain forests of equatorial Africa. Baby mandrills are born with a dark fur coat, pinkish face, white hair on their arms and legs, a black cap of hair on the head, and open eyes, according to the San Diego Zoo.

At two months of age, the baby starts to lose the baby hair and grow its adult coat.