Branco is a star link to zoo's birth.

TINY baby woolly monkey Branco enjoyed the attention as he made his public debut at a Midland zoo.

His arrival at Twycross is a celebration of the birth of the zoo itself in 1949 when a rivalry between two pet shop owners became a strong partnership.

Molly Badham and Nathalie Evans owned rival shops in Sutton Coldfield. Miss Evans had a woolly monkey in her shop window, which Miss Badham eventually bought for pounds 35.

This marked the start of the partnership between the two women and their primate collection which eventually became Twycross Zoo.

Founder: The late The zoo, near Tamworth, now has the best exhibit of woolly monkeys in captivity in Europe.

Branco, born last month, is the seventh offspring of mother Djoi, and is already becoming a popular sight. The tiny primate is named after a river in South America, where the species comes from.

A zoo spokeswoman said Branco's father, Miguel, has already been seen to be protective of his new son, boisterously throwing ropes around the enclosure to show he is protecting his baby.

Branco, who has clung to Djoi's front since birth, will soon move round to ride on her back.

He will be completely dependent on his mother for the first few months but by six months will move around by himself.

The newborn will suckle from his mother until he is seven months old and will move on to vegetables, nuts, leaves and chicken.

Molly Badham.

Today Twycross Zoo spokeswoman Kim Riley said: "Branco is playing up to the cameras and enjoying the limelight."

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Founder: The late Molly Badham. Tiny baby woolly monkey Branco pictured clinging on to his mother at Twycross Zoo.