PHOTOS: Baby chimpanzee the latest arrival at Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo has welcomed a new addition to its renowned chimpanzee community with the arrival of a healthy baby over the weekend.

The baby was first spotted in the chimpanzee enclosure on Saturday morning, in the arms of its mother Shiba.

Shiba has been keeping very close to the newborn, with handlers not even able to check what the baby chimpanzee’s gender is at this stage.

“Shiba has shown her calmness and great experience since the birth, cradling and shielding the infant, so much so that keepers haven’t been able to confirm the baby’s sex yet,” said primate supervisor Lou Grossfeldt.

“The youngster is quite vocal when not dozing in its mother’s arms and appears very healthy.”

Despite the youngster staying close to its mother at his point, the zoo assures visitors that there will be plenty of opportunities to view the child in days to come.

“The birth is great news for our chimpanzee group, and adds to our conservation efforts that increasingly operate here and in the wild,” Mr Grossfeldt said.