Cotswold Wildlife Park celebrates new animal dads on Father’s Day
A rare camel calf, baby monkeys and mongoose twins are among new arrivals
Last updated 22nd Jun 2026
Father’s Day is being marked at Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, with keepers celebrating a series of recent arrivals and the male animals helping to grow the next generation.
From critically endangered camels to tiny African mongooses, several species at the park have seen births as part of the European Breeding Programme.
Rare camel birth for endangered species
One of the most notable new dads is Louis, a male Bactrian camel, whose latest calf, Klaus, has been born in time for Father’s Day.
The species is listed as 'Critically Endangered' by the IUCN, and successful births in captivity remain rare in the UK.
Assistant Animal Manager Chris Kibbey said Louis has already made a significant contribution to the herd: “Since arriving at Cotswold Wildlife Park, Louis has sired eight calves, helping to secure the future of these remarkable animals.”
Although camel fathers do not typically take an active parenting role, keepers say Louis’s impact on the breeding programme is clear across the paddock.
New primate arrivals
In the park’s primate section, Tallus, a Black-and-white colobus, has recently fathered a baby named Dubu.
In this species, the dominant male typically assumes a leadership and protective role within the troop, while the responsibility for raising the young rests largely with the female.
Natalie Horner, Section Head of Primates, Small Mammals and Birds, said Dubu is settling into life at the park: "He's growing in confidence every day, becoming very playful with his older siblings. He's also had his first tastes of solid food."
Dubu was born with the species’ distinctive white infant coat, which helps the troop keep track of young babies before their colouring begins to darken.
The park has also recently welcomed a baby Coppery titi monkey, known for their strong family bonds and tightly knit social groups.
Hands-on dads in the Walled Garden
In the smaller mammal collection, Chip, a male Yellow mongoose, has become a father to twins.
Senior Keeper Hayley said he has been particularly attentive: “At every feed, he always makes sure mum Nutmeg and the babies have food before eating himself.”
The young mongooses are kept in the Walled Garden enclosure, where they are beginning to explore under close supervision.
Meanwhile, the park’s Dwarf mongoose group has also welcomed a new arrival, adding to the growing number of young animals on display this summer.
With new births across several species, keepers say Father’s Day is a timely reminder of the role male animals play in conservation breeding programmes – even when their parenting styles vary widely across the animal kingdom.