A SPECIES of monkey will be heading back to Colchester Zoo for the first time in 30 years.
The zoo plans to introduce five Barbary macaques and breed from them.
This species comes from the mountain areas of Morocco and Algeria, with their name referring to the Barbary Coast in North West Africa.
A spokesman said: "In the coming weeks we will be introducing Barbary macaques, a primate that has not been at Colchester Zoo for over 30 years.
"We are expecting to welcome two males from the Netherlands, as well as three females from France, in the hope they will form a breeding group to help with the vital conservation of this species.
"Sadly they are currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List; this is due to the pet trade and habitat loss due to deforestation.
"We look forward to welcoming the new arrivals who will be sharing their home with our patas monkeys in our ‘Edge of Africa’ area of the zoo."
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