Seven babies were born this year ( WTF ! ) but only six of them would be followed and probably sparingly 🙁 This is a year to remember as Stumpy has finally sired a successor – Stompy !
Daria♀
Mother: Dana
DOB: around 12/04/2018
Father: unknown
Dana’s two previous babies didn’t survive – Damien ( born in 2016 and spotted only once ) and another unnamed baby ( born in 2017 and seen so briefly that I never even knew whether it’s a boy or girl ). The family of Dana is still a mystery to me as she seems to have less allegiance with Ragtag than even Lubby has. She seems to come and go as she wishes and just like Lubby she must have a connection with Bossy’s troop as she’s tolerated over there to forage and feed alongside them, at least most of the time.
Dana’s story unraveled…
Daria’s older siblings that didn’t survive…..
The special relationship Dana has with Grandee…
Daria’s name was suggested by one of my viewers ( Picket Fence ) as the name carries a special story about a premature baby who finally made it in the neonatal ICU and so far the charm must have worked as not only is Daria alive and kicking as we speak she has pretty much been a bundle of energy since birth and she has been so advanced in every department that she has been wearing mum out ! So finally Dana’s baby seems to be thriving 🙂
Oh and welcome Daria….
and she’s going to be a catch !
Jeff♂
Mother: Annie
DOB: around 01/06/2018
father: Batman the alpha male
Another boy for Annie ! She must be desperate for an heir ! Oh well Annie is always a good mum and takes much protection of her babies so just like her older kids in the past I don’t really get to see Jeff very much to tell his story….
My first encounter with Jeff…
Jeff still have to go through the same ordeal just like any other babies 🙂
Dobby♂
Mother: Lubby
DOB: around 14/06/2018
Father: unknown
Another disappointment for Lubby as it’s another boy again so Lubby is not going to swell the ranks and improve her standing in either Ragtag or Bossy’s troop but what a remarkable boy he is – he’s not meek like Dubby and he’s more of a fighter than Dibby is. Lubby will certainly see a boy who will love her and come to her defence, someone who will stand by her all the time, that is until the day he has to leave the troop…..
Baby Dobby making his debut
Oh he’s a darling isn’t he ?
He surely resents troop rules…
And he fights alongside his brother…
But what he excels in Lubby’s not going to appreciate it very much when it comes to time of weaning. Dobby certainly let his feeling be known and is not going to let go of the milk bar quietly !
And he’s not going to let go of milk easily !
Stompy♂
Mother: Alma
DOB: around 15/06/2018
Father: likely to be Stumpy
Stumpy was the biggest surprise in 2018 – certainly it’s going to happen one day as I had seen him practice mating as early as early 2017 with a few older females but it was not until early June 2018 that I could tell with certainty that he was going to sire.
Stumpy grooming a heavily pregnant Alma…
And so Stumpy’s son was born and finally Stumpy has become a father. It’s a new chapter in life for him and what an accomplishment for him to begin life facing with so much hardship and got here at long last. He really earned it !
Many congratulations, Stumpy !
meet Stompy, son of Stumpy !
I have yet to see Stumpy showering love to his boy like Grandee from Bossy’s troop does but I think such behaviour is learnt over the years and Stumpy will do the same when he’s older and a lot mellower. Still I had caught him defending Stompy once so there is that palpable favouritism he has for Stompy over other babies in Batman’s troop !
Stumpy coming to Stompy’s defence !
Alma is a very high-ranking female ( I think she is second in command ) so Stompy should have a easy life to start with ! Nice move Stumpy !
Dakota♀
Mother: Dama
DOB: around 15/06/2018
Father: unknown
Sister to Dak, Dakota is the first female baby born to Ragtag troop since I’ve begun to take notice of them. Dakota seems to be a very advanced girl from the get go and I don’t really know too much of her as she’s always playing in the trees with her peers !
My first proper encounter with Dakota 🙂
and she just grows so fast !
Willy♂
Mother: Wibby
DOB: around 15/06/2018
Father: unknown
Willy is an odd ball like her mum Wibby who both seem to be comfortable at home with either Bossy’s troop or with Ragtag troop, and more so than either Dana and Lubby. It seems that she must be related to some high-ranking individuals in both troops !
Indeed Wibby’s first appearance did cause some confusion as she was spotted with Bossy’s troop first and it was not until later that I realized that Willy and his mum actually belong to Ragtag troop ! Not only are they tolerated by Bossy’s troop Willy sometimes could be seen going about his own business alone in Bossy’s troop ! ( Wibby probably is socializing somewhere with her friends or relatives in Bossy’s troop though ! )
Who do they really belong to ?
I have to say the presence of Wibby and Willy has opened my eyes to the complex society in these rhesus macaques and just like us they do visit relatives and friends from time to time. How fascinating the population dynamics they have there !
Wibby is a visitor welcomed in Bossy’s troop !
Dahlia♀
Mother: Dasha
DOB: between end of May and early June
Father: unknown
Dahlia is added to the list as an afterthought only since she wasn’t on my list of babies to follow to begin with but as she seems to be popping up in my videos too often enough to remain anonymous, the decision was reversed and so now we have Dahlia. Very little is known about her but she does look very similar to Dakota except the latter has a rounder and fuller face.
