Masaya, a critically endangered roloway monkey at Chester Zoo, just did something remarkable: she gave birth. This isn't just any birth; it's a defiant, adorable, tiny victory months after Masaya underwent a pioneering surgery to save her foot.
Because apparently, when you're one of fewer than 2,000 left on Earth, you don't just survive a golf-ball-sized tumor removal—you follow it up by creating more life. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying for her doctors.
The Unprecedented Procedure
Last summer, 15-year-old Masaya was wheeled into an operating room for a procedure that, according to zoo vets, had zero precedent for a roloway monkey. A team from the University of Liverpool's Small Animal Teaching Hospital removed a rather large mass from her foot, managing to salvage all but one toe. The alternative? Amputation. And an amputee monkey, as Zoe Edwards, a primate keeper, dryly noted, might struggle with the crucial task of holding a baby.
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Start Your News DetoxGood news: Masaya's foot healed beautifully. So beautifully, in fact, that she's now the proud mother of Lagertha, a tiny, curious daughter named after a Viking queen. Primate specialists say the baby is already showing her mother's "strong spirit." Which, given the circumstances, probably means she’s already plotting world domination from her mom's belly.
Why This Matters (Beyond the Cute Factor)
Lagertha isn't just a cute face; she's a big deal for her species. Roloway monkeys are on the IUCN's critically endangered list, thanks to habitat loss and poaching in their native Ghana and Ivory Coast. There are fewer than two thousand left in the wild, and even in European zoos, breeding females are a rare sight. Chester Zoo is one of only two places in the entire UK where these monkeys reside.
Masaya's journey to motherhood wasn't exactly smooth. She arrived at the zoo in 2023 with persistent foot problems that stumped vets, despite X-rays and biopsies. They suspected an old thorn injury, but it wasn't until 2025 (yes, it was a long saga) that a worsening swelling led to a CT scan in Liverpool and the decision for surgery.
Charlotte Bentley, a Veterinary Officer, described the logistical challenge of getting a monkey to vet school as "a monumental effort." But Masaya, ever the trooper, was "resilient throughout the process." And now, that resilience has paid off in the form of a tiny, healthy, critically important new family member.
Masaya and Lagertha, along with four other roloway monkeys, are now back on display at Chester Zoo. Go ahead, try not to feel a surge of unexpected optimism for a species that just got a second (and third) chance.
