Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

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

• Puppy mill proposal stalled by Senate committee. (state capitol) (Read more about the puppy mill bill here.)
• Primate skeleton may tell old tale. (New York)
• Pet costs can be burden, surprise in hard times. (local column)
• Critters in the classroom. (photos below)

And read this story now on NewsOK.com:

• Michael Vick leaves Kansas prison for home confinement in Virginia. (Read more coverage of Michael Vick on the Pet Show blog here.)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

My gripe is that it takes very little or no skill. I like games where if I perform well, I have a chance to improve my odds. This game is all about random chance — pick a number and hope it’s the right one.

Now science has confirmed that a trained monkey can play Deal or No Deal, and the primates actually feal regret when they find out they’ve picked wrong.

Researchers at Duke University gave a group of rhesus macaques a choice of eight white squares to choose from. Underneath each square was a different color corresponding to a reward, the best being sugary fruit juice. After choosing, the monkeys were also shown the rewards they missed out on. When shown they missed out on the juice, the monkeys tried harder.

Brain scans revealed that when playing the game, the monkeys used a center of the brain which analyzes the consequences of actions. That same area also became active when the monkeys were shown what they passed up, suggesting they were thinking about what they might have won.

As interesting as these findings are, I find myself feeling sorry for the monkeys who missed out on the juice, knowing they that understood they missed their chance at a sweet reward.

Now if I could just get a group of scientists to analyze my theory that a trained monkey could replace Howie Mandel as the host of Deal or No Deal.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today, yesterday and Saturday -

• Del Shake wins futurity by neck. (Oklahoma City)
• In Hawaii, native birds face ‘disaster.’
• Biologist voiced chimp concerns.
• Expert will examine skull discovered at wildlife refuge. (Oklahoma City)
• Remington Park may be sold. (Oklahoma City)
• Gypsy horses mesmerize ranchers. (Blanchard)
• Horse group chief having ride of life. (Oklahoma City)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -

• Clinic details chimp attack. (Connecticut)
• Eagle survives crash. (Nevada)
• OSU vet program gets $1M donation. (Stillwater)
• House pushes pet-breeding rules. (statewide)
• Ballpark to put up nets. (Oklahoma City)
• Don’t select your pet’s food by price alone. (nationwide)
• A towel for Cholula. (Newcastle)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

The tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma were a reminder to pet owners how important identification is.

Severe weather can rip down fences, pull down walls and leave pets confused and scared. At least one veterinarian is helping reunite lost dogs with their owners. The best way to ensure a pet is returned is by microchipping, he said. Collars and tags can sometimes be caught and torn by debris. Microchips stay under the skin and can be tracked by any vet or shelter official.

Here is some more information from the ASPCA about disaster readiness: 

• The Pet Evacuation Transportation Safety (PETS) Act, passed after Hurricane Katrina, allows owners to take their companion animals with them to shelters. Contact the shelter before you show up to make sure it’s OK. Some shelters are designed for animal owners.
• Practice getting your animal out of the house so it isn’t scary or difficult. This is especially important for cat carriers.
• Owners with pets that require special temperature settings, such as reptiles, need to have duplicates of everything, such as heaters. Fish owners should have a small, transportable tank ready.
• Socialize your pet as much as possible in case they come in contact with rescuers or other people at the shelter.
• Keep an emergency kit of your pets needs, such as any medicines and some food, that you can take with you. Be sure to keep a photo of you with your pet if you get separated and have to claim him.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

Check out this precious story out of London. This baby monkey’s mom is recovering from surgery, so she’s using a teddy bear and her zookeepers to keep her company. I guess everyone needs a good teddy bear when they get scared! Here are a few pictures.