A RARE monkey has been born at Chester Zoo.

Amidala, a female Sulawesi crested macaque was born to mum Lisa and dad Mamassa on January 14.

Making her first steps outside last week, she is a welcome boost to the European endangered species breeding programme that is working to protect the critically endangered monkey in their Indonesian habitat.

Illegal wildlife trade and large scale habitat loss has pushed the Sulawesi macaque to the edge of extinction with less than 5,000 remaining in the wild.

Well known as targets for poachers, they are also hunted for food as they are considered a local delicacy.

The number of Sulawesi macaque’s may have plummeted by around 80% in the last 30 years but the new arrival at the zoo increases the number of monkeys living in its island attraction to 18.

Working with the local communities, Chester Zoo conservationists are helping to protect forests and the diverse animal species living in them including the Sulawesi macaque’s.