Say hi to our new baby mandrill

Animal news | 7 July 2025

In the early hours of 30 June, our female mandrill Ikela gave birth to her eighth infant, giving our keeper quite the surprise when she started her shift. The little male is doing well and has been named Hasani (’the handsome one’). Handsome and colourful, he’s sure to grow up to be just like dad Napo. But it’ll be a while before that happens, and in the meantime he is happily snuggled close to Ikela’s tummy. After about six months, Hasani will be fully independent and Ikela will no longer feed him.

Hasani’s biggest fan – apart from mum Ikela ‒ is his big sister Aluna. Aluna is Ikela’s youngest daughter and was born in 2018. She is the only one of the horde who has been allowed access to the youngster since day one, looking at him, touching him, and holding his hand. Ikela and Aluna have a wonderfully trusting relationship, so Ikela does not see her daughter as a competitor. For Aluna, this is of course the best education, as she is learning at first-hand how to take good care of offspring.