Endangered roloway monkey gives birth after limb-saving surgery

A critically endangered roloway monkey at Chester Zoo has given birth just months after a limb-sparing foot surgery helped avoid amputation. The 15-year-old female, Masaya, underwent a complex procedure last summer after recurrent swelling in her foot worsened; a CT scan at the University of Liverpool’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital identified a golf ball-sized mass, and surgeons removed it while preserving all but one toe. Chester Zoo says Masaya has since healed well and has now delivered a female infant, Lagertha, a notable addition for a species listed as Critically Endangered and managed in a European conservation breeding program. (itv.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the case is a useful example of how referral imaging, cross-institutional surgical planning, and limb-preserving decision-making can directly support both welfare and reproductive outcomes in high-value zoological patients. Zoo staff said amputation would have raised concerns about Masaya’s ability to carry and care for an infant, making the successful recovery especially relevant in a species with very limited breeding capacity in Europe. Chester Zoo notes roloway monkeys are among the world’s most threatened primates, and IUCN-linked materials have estimated fewer than 2,000 survive in the wild. (itv.com)

What to watch: Watch for whether Chester Zoo or the University of Liverpool publish a formal case report or more detailed clinical account of the surgery and postoperative management. (itv.com)