TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 10 (UPI) — The first time, a rare red-haired baboon at Ramat Gan Safari Park has given birth.
Within the modern DNA of the hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) species is a rare recessive gene for ginger-colored hair.
Contrary to some reports, this isn’t the first time a red-haired baboon has been born at the Israeli park. Twice before, red-haired baboons have been birthed at Ramat Gan — once in 2011, and once 30 years prior.
But this is the first time a red-haired baboon has gotten pregnant and birthed a baby baboon — lending to the odds the recessive gene is passed on.
The mother is Sahara, the ginger baboon born in 2011. The father hasn’t yet been identified. The still unnamed female infant baboon is only a few weeks old and still clings to her mother. Though it boasts dark fur, it will hopefully carry the gene for red hair and pass it on, should she survive to reproduce.
Safari officials announced the mother and daughter continue to bond, and that Sahara is a very attentive mother, spending all of her time with her newborn.
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