VIDEO: Meet Edinburgh Zoo’s new baby chimpanzee Velu

A rare baby chimpanzee has gone on public view at Edinburgh Zoo after being accepted into his new family’s complex hierarchy.

Eight-week-old Velu joined his mother Heleen and the rest of the group today.

With a fresh pink face, he tentatively clung to his mother for protection while the rest of the chimps swung on ropes and scavenged for food.

Velu is a pure Western chimpanzee, an endangered species, and is the first chimpanzee to be successfully reared in Scotland in 15 years.

Sophie Pearson, team leader at the Budongo Trail, said: “We are delighted with the arrival and successful integration of Velu into our chimpanzee group.

“Still very young, Velu will look like a baby for another five years or so. He currently has a beautiful pale, pinky-coloured face which will darken as he gets older and has a mass of spiky hair.”