Name that monkey

OK, let me just preface this by saying I have no clue what this baby capuchin monkey is doing in this picture from the Little River Zoo. That aside, here’s the news …

This female capuchin monkey was born May 3 at Little River Zoo, and officials there are looking for a good name. The naming contest is open to children ages 5-15. The entry deadline is Aug. 1. Entries can be made at the zoo or online. The winner receives a membership and gets to have his or her picture taken with the monkey.

Here’s some more info from Little River Zoo about capuchins:

Capuchins are the smartest of all the monkeys. Their life span is around 40 years. Unfortunately, they are often purchased for pets when they are very young, and then many good-intentioned owners come to realize how these monkeys do not make good pets. “Many of the monkeys brought to the Little River Zoo came from previous private ownership,” said Janet Sadler, Director/Co-founder of the Little River Zoo. “The zoo then introduces these monkeys back into family groups so they can live as normal a life as possible.” All the primates at the zoo were born in captivity, as the zoo does not take animals from the wild. Capuchin monkeys share and practice deception which are both signs of intelligence, and recent research indicates they also understand the concepts of justice and fairness.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

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