A rare event has just taken place at the Réserve Africaine de Sigean with the birth of a young male Northern talapoin monkey (Miopithecus ogouensis), named Zuko, born on July 16, 2026. The little one has joined his family in the Large Immersive Aviary, where he now lives alongside his parents, Aitana and Boo, and his older brothers, Wakai and Xumi..

Weighing between 800 g and 1.3 kg as adults, talapoins hold the title of the smallest monkeys on the African continent. Their small size, combined with their habit of hiding in dense vegetation to escape birds of prey, requires a keen eye to spot them. This diurnal, arboreal primate always lives near water—a safe haven into which it does not hesitate to dive when a threat arises.

In terms of social behavior and diet, this small omnivore—fond of fruit, seeds, and insects—lives in mixed groups that gather at night in massive sleeping aggregations of up to 100 individuals. Females of this species give birth to a single offspring after a five-and-a-half-month gestation period, and the young one gains independence quickly, as early as three months of age.

Currently classified as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN due to deforestation and hunting, the Gabon talapoin is closely monitored through the European Breeding Programme (EAZA EEP); this birth marks a significant success for the species’ conservation.