Adorable pictures of Edinburgh Zoo’s newest arrival, baby chimp Masindi

When your big cousin is the King of the Swingers and keepers treat you as Edinburgh Zoo’s VIP baby, someone has to be on hand to show just how to get a grip of the ropes.
Seven-month-old Western chimpanzee Masindi practising her climbing skills with the help of her older brother Velu at Edinburgh Zoo.Seven-month-old Western chimpanzee Masindi practising her climbing skills with the help of her older brother Velu at Edinburgh Zoo.
Seven-month-old Western chimpanzee Masindi practising her climbing skills with the help of her older brother Velu at Edinburgh Zoo.

Luckily for little Masindi, big brother Velu was there to give those all important tips at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s(RZSS) showpiece attraction in the Capital.

Masindi, a seven-month-old Western chimpanzee, clung onto Velu as the pair studied the intricate web of ropes in their incredible enclosure at the zoo.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The youngster shares her name with the nearest town to the Budongo Conservation Field Station in Uganda where RZSS funds vital conservation efforts for the critically endangered species which faces a loss of habitat among a host of other issues.

Mum Heleen, who was rescued from a research laboratory in the Netherlands before being brought to the zoo in 2010, gave birth to Masindi in February and she was named following a public vote.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.