Conservationists are celebrating after one of the world’s rarest and most critically-endangered chimpanzees has been born at Chester Zoo.
The “precious” baby boy – who is a critically-endangered western chimpanzee – was born safely to mother ZeeZee after an eight-month pregnancy, and the UK’s biggest charity zoo is hoping his birth will give “hope” to the under-threat species.
According to the zoo, the currently unnamed new baby is in good health.
He has spent the first few weeks of life bonding with his mother and the rest of the 22-strong troop at Chester Zoo.
In what is known to be a longstanding tradition among conservationists, Chester Zoo has said the new baby chimpanzee will be named after a rockstar or famous pop icon to help boost the profile of the highly-threatened species.
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At present, there are thought to only be around 18,000 western chimpanzees remaining.
Small populations are still found, ranging from Senegal to Ghana in West Africa, but they have sadly become extinct in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Togo.
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Western chimpanzees were the first subspecies of chimpanzees to ever be declared critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and are under significant threat in the wild as a result of hunting for the illegal bush meat trade, diseases spread by humans, and extensive habitat loss and forest destruction across West Africa.
This is why primatologists say the new baby’s birth gives further “hope” to efforts to ensure the long-term survival of the species.
One of the world’s rarest chimpanzees has been born at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo
Speaking on the importance of the new baby’s birth, Mike Jordan – Animal and Plant Director at Chester Zoo – said: “In the last 25 years alone the world has lost 80% of its western chimpanzee population, so the arrival of a healthy baby here at Chester offers us real hope that we can help turn things around for this species.
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“We’re in the midst of a global extinction crisis.
“The UN estimates that one million species could be wiped out in our lifetime, but, as a world-leading conservation zoo, we’re doing everything we possibly can to halt and reverse this, and our teams have worked on the ground in Uganda, Nigeria and Gabon to help protect wild chimpanzee populations and their forest homes.
“This work, paired with the endangered species breeding programme in conservation zoos, will help play a key role in protecting this species from being lost forever.”
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
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Iconic Manc movie 24 Hour Party People is set to return to cinemas for its anniversary
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most iconic movies is set to return to the big screen next month.
Remastered in 4K and returning to UK cinemas to mark 24 years since its original release, Michael Winterbottom’s 2002 biographical comedy drama film, 24 Hour Party People, tells the story of Manchester‘s popular music community from 1976 to 1992 – specifically about Factory Records‘ founder Tony Wilson.
The film begins with the punk rock era of the late 1970s, before moving through the 1980s into the rave and DJ culture, and of course, the ‘Madchester‘ scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The narrative largely follows the career of Tony Wilson, played by Middleton-born actor Steve Coogan, while also covering the careers of the major Factory Records artists – especially Joy Division and New Order, as well as A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, and Happy Mondays.
If you haven’t seen 24 Hour Party People before, it’s a dramatisation based on a combination of real events, rumours, and urban legends, as the film is sure to make clear.
Coogan is joined by a cast by a mixture of big names and, at the time, rising stars like Paddy Considine, Shirley Henderson, Lennie James, John Simm, Ralf Little, Andy Serkis, Sean Harris, John Thomson, and even Peter Kay, alongside cameos from other figures connected to the Manchester music scene.
Before it returns to cinemas, the film will first open music and media festival/conference, Beyond The Music, at MediaCity in Salford on 6 October.
The screening at the festival will also be followed by a Q&A with Coogan, Winterbottom, and producer Andrew Eaton.
24 Hour Party People will then be re-released in UK cinemas from 9 October, and you can check your local cinema for screening times and book tickets online now.
Featured Image – Altitude
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Bury actress Kate O’Flynn wins big at 2026 Emmys with record-breaking comedy show
Emily Sergeant
Did you know that one of the big winners at the 2026 Emmy Awards last night was actually an actress from Bury?
In case it wasn’t on your radar, American television‘s biggest night, the Emmys, took place yesterday evening over in Los Angeles, and several records were broken in the process – including Apple TV’s comedy horror Widow’s Bay taking home the most Emmys ever for a single series of a comedy show, with 14 of them.
Widow’s Bay tells the story of mayor Tom Loftis, played by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, who is trying to boost tourism on his rugged New England island, but must navigate several strange events that suggest it might be cursed.
Created by Katie Dippold, and executive produced and directed by Hiro Murai, Widow’s Bay was released in late April to widespread critical acclaim.
At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards last night, the show scooped a record 14 awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series, several acting wins, and wins for directing and writing too.
One of those acting wins was Kate O’Flynn for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – an actress who hails from the Greater Manchester town of Bury.
Kate stars as Patricia Moyer, mayor Tom’s eccentric assistant in the show.
She grew up in Holcombe Brook near Ramsbottom, and was educated at Bury Grammar School, before she went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Acting in 2006.
Taking to the stage to accept her award last night, Kate said in her speech: “I want to thank our mayor [Matthew Rhys] and all the residents of Widow’s Bay, in front and behind the camera – you’re amazing. This is the role of a lifetime, thank you Katie and Hiro for trusting a Lancashire lass to play a sassy broad like Patricia. And thank you Apple [TV] for saying yes.
“Thank you Nicky and Tony for looking after me, my family back home, my mum and dad, and the loves of my life, my husband and our darling daughter – another sassy broad in the making.
Emily Sergeant -
12th January 2023 
