Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is excited to announce the birth of a Japanese macaque (pronounced muh-‘kak), also known as a snow monkey, born on May 2.
Zoo staff has determined the little baby is a male. He and his mother Ono are doing well.
According to Curator of Primates Maureen Leahy, “The baby appears healthy, is regularly nursing and visually exploring the exhibit while clinging tightly on Ono’s torso.”
He joins a troop of eight snow monkeys at Regenstein Macaque Forest, the newest exhibit at Lincoln Park Zoo. The expansive exhibit includes microclimates, a hot spring, stream and various levels, creating an ideal environment for the growing snow monkey population.
“From a research perspective, this is a significant addition to the population,” said Research Scientist Katie Cronin, PhD. “The new baby will be the first in this population to grow up with access to touch screen computers – a tool that the monkey can decide whether or not to use – so that we can study cognitive abilities and gain a better understanding of how they think and feel.”
In the wild, Japanese macaques inhabit extreme climates throughout most of Japan, from sub-tropical lowlands to sub-alpine regions. Learn more at snowmonkeys.org.
