KIN of the swingers! Moment tiny baby spider monkey is born while its mother hangs in mid-air at Dudley Zoo

A critically endangered spider monkey was born in a zoo while its mother swung in mid-air. 

Valentine, 20, gave birth to the tiny Colombian black spider monkey at Dudley Zoo.

Senior keeper Harley Hunt captured the amazing scenes on his camera phone after arriving for his shift on January 10.

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Valentine cradled the youngster while cleaning its hair. The critically endangered spider monkey was born in a zoo while its mother swung in mid-air

He said: 'As soon as I realised Valentine was giving birth and the baby was very imminent, I grabbed my phone and hid by the window, filming through the glass while trying to watch what was unfolding at the same time.

'It was amazing to see the baby arrive around six minutes later and I felt very privileged.

'Just as she was about to birth the baby, the other spider monkeys all went outside, so she was left alone in the den, but as soon as the baby arrived, she brought it straight over to the window to show me.

'It was an incredible moment and I felt like her proud birthing partner.'

Valentine, 20, gave birth to the tiny Colombian black spider monkey at Dudley Zoo. Senior keeper Harley Hunt captured the amazing scenes on his camera phone after arriving for his shift on January 10

At one stage Valentine used ropes to swing herself up onto a ledge with her newborn's legs visible.

Moments later her new baby was born and she cradled the youngster while cleaning its hair.

It is still too early to establish the baby's sex which is the zoo's second spider monkey to be born in captivity in five months.

Last August Nina was born to the group's other female, Evita, outside in the paddock in front of shocked visitors. Dad to both babies is 13-year-old Chester.

Jodie Dryden, Lower Primates Team Leader, said: 'Births are rare to witness, as most species usually labour at night, but both our females obviously felt comfortable enough to have their babies in front of people during the day.

'The baby is doing really well and feeding fine, and we're seeing Valentine trying to get to grips with motherhood, like every new mum, but having had Evita to watch over the last few months would have helped.

'We haven't had any baby spider monkeys for four decades, so we're really pleased to have successfully bred two of the rare primates in less than six months and helped play our part in boosting the numbers of this critically endangered species.'

Colombian black spider monkeys are hunted for their meat, as well as being under threat from forest deforestation.

At one stage Valentine used ropes to swing herself up onto a ledge with her newborn's legs visible. It is still too early to establish the baby's sex which is the zoo's second spider monkey to be born in captivity in five months