The father of both cubs is 8-year-old Paibi. This is the first time any of the three animals have become parents. “It was only in June 2016 that the father moved from Stuttgart’s Wilhelma Zoo to Eastern Styria and was integrated, along with his brother, into the existing Herberstein group,” explains the zoological director, FTA Dr. Reinhard Pichler, adding: “Our gelada family now consists of 3 males, 6 females, and the two young. Further offspring cannot be ruled out.”

Geladas are related to baboons, live in harems, and are characterized by a complex social life within their groups. Females choose their mates not only based on physically attractive traits, such as a beautiful mane or a bright red chest, but also based on social qualities. While males are about one-third larger than their female counterparts and are distinguished by a long mane and a red chest, the females signal their fertile days through a well-vascularized, visible red chest. This serves as a signal to the males.

Another distinctive feature is their communication with one another. Compared to other monkeys, these animals communicate through various vocalizations, some of which are strikingly similar to human sounds, leading some to speak of a distinct “Gelada language.”