Tito the spider monkey celebrates first birthday at Hunter Valley Zoo

Tito is one spoiled spider monkey, with the Hunter Zoo giving their cheeky friend two parties to celebrate his first birthday this week.

Tito is one spoiled spider monkey, with the Hunter Zoo giving their cheeky friend two parties to celebrate his first birthday after a year of being raised by hand.

Tito had a rather rocky start to life as shortly after birth his mum Cara did not adjust well to motherhood and was unsure how to bond and care for her new bub.

Tito the Spider Monkey. Picture: David Swift

Tito has a soft zebra toy that acts as his security blanket. Picture: David Swift

The keepers set themselves a mission to raise Tito as a normal, happy monkey, according to primate keeper Tasmyn Menzies, who helped raise Tito alongside two other keepers.

“We asked each other, ‘are we crazy but can we hand raise a spider monkey and eventually get him back to his family’?”

“We are determined to give him a normal monkey life, once he’s hand raised.”

The team took turns for around the clock bottle feeds every four hours for the first six months, before switching him to solid foods and also provided Tito with stuffed toys to sleep next to.

The one-year-old Spider Monkey has been hand raised by zookeepers. Picture: David Swift

Their efforts are paying off and Tito is gradually adjusting to life on spider monkey island, celebrating his birthday with his family with all of them tucking into a cake of rockmelon, banana and grapes.

Tito was also spoiled with an additional birthday party and cake with his keepers who have grown inseparable to him.

“He’s going to be a very cheeky monkey, and his personality is starting to shine through. We love him.” Ms Menzies said.