FORT WORTH, Texas — Yet another surprise came out of the Fort Worth Zoo, with the announcement of the birth of a baby mandrill. 

What You Need To Know

  • Zoo staff posted on Facebook about the newest addition Thursday and said this is the first mandrill baby born at the zoo in nearly 30 years

  • Staff named the little primate Ruby in honor of her mother, Scarlett, and they say baby and mom are doing well

  • Starting now, you can see Ruby and her troopmates in the zoo’s World of Primates habitat

  • Ruby is just one of many recent births at the Fort Worth Zoo, which include a lion cub, a baby giraffe and a rockhopper penguin chick

Zoo staff posted on Facebook about the newest addition Thursday and said this is the first mandrill baby born at the zoo in nearly 30 years. Mandrills, which are native to Africa, are classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to habitat destruction and being hunted for meat. 

Staff named the little primate Ruby in honor of her mother, Scarlett, and they say baby and mom are doing well.

“First-time father, J.J., had been sticking close to mom and baby and our other female Sudi is also spending time with the pair,” the Facebook post said. “Overall, the troop is adjusting well to the newest arrival.”

And good news! Starting now, you can see Ruby and her troopmates in the zoo’s World of Primates habitat. 

Ruby is just one of many recent births at the Fort Worth Zoo, which include a lion cub, a baby giraffe and a rockhopper penguin chick.