When this new-born monkey needed a surrogate mother, her keeper rustled up this teddy to do the job.

Conchita, only the second whitenaped mangabey born in Britain, was delivered by emergency Caesarian, leaving mother Leonie too weak to bond with her.

Now three weeks old, she has grown so attached to the bear it is almost impossible to part them. When the vet arrives to check Conchita's health, keeper Andrea Payne has to persuade her to swap "mum" for a tiny security blanket.

Keepers at London Zoo hope to introduce her to Leonie and dad Lucky within the month. Curator of mammals Malcolm Fitzpatrick said: "White-naped mangabeys are one of the most endangered species of primate. Conchita's birth is vitally important."

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