Tiny feet, big news: Utah's Hogle Zoo welcomes baby colobus monkey
Colobus monkey gives birth to healthy male on March 30.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a male colobus monkey, born on March 30, 2025, to mom Violet (11) and dad Sefu (17). Mom and baby are doing well—he’s staying tucked in Violet’s arms as he nurses and begins to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of his new environment.
The birth occurred naturally and was observed by Hogle Zoo’s dedicated animal care team. Staff will continue monitoring Violet and her infant for ongoing positive signs that all is going well and they’re bonding with each other and the rest of the troop.
Violet came to Hogle Zoo in 2017 with her daughter Dahlia (now 6) on a breeding recommendation with Sefu. This baby is Violet and Sefu’s third offspring together. This close-knit social group is now playing a role in raising their newest member.
Colobus monkeys engage in a behavior called alloparenting, where females in the troop share in the care of infants. Alloparenting allows young female colobus monkeys without babies to observe and practice maternal care. While others may carry and handle the baby, the mom stays closely attuned—especially when responding to his cries.
This birth is a meaningful step for conserving colobus monkeys, whose populations are declining due to habitat loss, poaching, and increasing conflict with humans. Found in central and eastern Africa, colobus monkeys spend most of their lives in the treetops of dense forests.
Guests can visit the smallest member of the colobus monkey troop in Primate Forest, where the monkeys rotate between indoor and outdoor habitats based on the weather.
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Utah's Hogle Zoo
