Media Advisory
July 1, 2013
Contact: Matt Reinartz
matt.reinartz@stpaul.gov
651.487.8294 (o)
651.248.9836 (c)

Gorillas Aren’t the Only Primate Making Us Go Bananas

Como Zoo Welcomes New Baby Saki Monkey

Como Zoo is now home to a brand new baby White-faced saki monkey. The baby was born Saturday, June 29^th and is now on display with its parents in the primate building. Affectionately nicknamed "Green Bean" for the mother’s affinity for the food since giving birth, the baby looks healthy, alert, and is nursing regularly.

The sex of the monkey will be unknown until coloring in the face develops sometime between one and two months old, at which time a name for the baby will be chosen. While males are recognizable by their black body and white face, females retain the brownish-gray color with which they are born.

The typical gestation period for a Saki monkey is around 5 months and yields one baby. This is the 7^th baby, but only the 6^th pregnancy for the mother, 15 year old Patty; in 2005 she gave birth to twins.  Patty is one of only a small handful of Saki Monkeys in captivity to give birth to twins. She and the father, 13 year old Milton, have been a pair at Como since 2003.  

Como primate keepers are taking a hands-off approach thus far with “Green Bean” as they do not want to disrupt the bond between mother and baby. This makes judging the size of the baby difficult, but keepers estimate it weighs well below one pound. Adult Saki Monkeys weigh between three and five pounds and are 12-16 inches long excluding their tail which is approximately as long as their body.

White-faced saki monkeys are native to the rainforests of Brazil, Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

Sponsoring an animal makes a great gift – that keeps giving back. Animal sponsorships are a unique way to help Como Park Zoo and Conservatory with its wildlife conservation efforts. They support enhanced habitats and efforts to maintain the best care possible for the animals, including the primates, at Como Zoo. To purchase, visit Garden Safari Gifts at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory or call 651-487-8229.