MONKEY BUSINESS: Male monkeys at Trentham Monkey Forest are showing their caring side as they look after their young.

The baby Barbary Macaques have been born into the thriving colony at Trentham with the males of the group sharing the carrying, grooming and protection of the babies.

Sue Wiper, scientific officer at the Monkey Forest, said: "People are very surprised that the males get so involved in the parenting, particularly when there is a strong probability that they are not the father.

"Visitors assume the babies are with their mums and are taken aback when we tell them it's the males doing the childcare."

Babies are often passed around a group as they can be used to break down barriers between males."