Papa Puli: Tbilisi Zoo’s most caring resident — video blog
Papa Puli is a Barbary macaque — also known as a magot — and the most caring resident of Tbilisi Zoo. Barbary macaques live in social groups and are known for their friendly and attentive behaviour. But Papa Puli stands out even among his own kind. The dominant male of a large family group, he is an unusually devoted parent. He looks after all newborns equally, carrying the babies for much of the day and returning them to their mothers only when it is time to feed.
It is for this reason that zoo keepers named him “Papa Poule” — a French expression that literally means “mother hen father” and is used to describe exceptionally attentive or overprotective dads.
Mother monkeys are no less caring. Young macaques depend especially heavily on maternal attention during their first six months of life, when their primary source of nutrition is their mother’s milk.
The Barbary macaque, or magot, is a tailless Old World monkey with thick dark yellow fur, often with a reddish tint. They reach maturity at around four to five years of age and typically live for about 20 years.
A total of 19 Barbary macaques currently live at Tbilisi Zoo. In the wild, they mainly feed on fruit, but in the zoo their diet is more varied. They are particularly fond of fruit, nuts, seeds, cottage cheese and leafy greens.
Tbilisi Zoo‘s history spans nearly a century. It was founded on 10 February 1927 on the basis of the Caucasian Society for the Acclimatisation of Animals, which had been keeping wild animals since the early 20th century, though without official zoo status.
The zoo was originally built on 70 hectares in the Vere River gorge. Over the years, the expansion of the capital — and later the devastating flood of 13 June 2015 — significantly reduced the territory of the old zoo. Today, it covers five hectares and is home to around 1,500 animals, each with its own story..
In this video series, we will introduce you to the residents of Tbilisi Zoo. We will show how their day unfolds, how they interact with other animals and people, and how their behaviour changes depending on the weather and the season. Get ready to hear many fascinating stories.
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