Baby Baboons Born At Oakland Zoo, Baboon 'Troop' Booming
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- The Oakland Zoo's population grew by two as baby baboons joined their ranks this spring.
"Kabili" was born first, on March 14th, and the second was born April 1st. We'd share his name, but he doesn't have one.
The April Fool's Day boy baboon's name will be up to you, and other readers who weigh in on the best name.
You can vote at http://www.oaklandzoo.org/name_the_baby.php
The options:
• Muriu (pronounced Mahroo, meaning Son)
• Maliki (meaning King)
• Mazi (meaning Sir).
The names are all Swahili. There is a small fee to vote, and the funds raised from the naming contest will go towards enrichment items for animals there.
The hamadryas baboons are growing in number at the zoo, with now four female baboons born in the past two years.
To see them yourself, visit the exhibit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Senior Keeper Adrienne Mrsny of Oakland Zoo said all the animals are getting along well.
"The siblings are very curious about the new babies and with the mothers' permissions will look at the babies, often trying to groom or play with them. Kabili is living up to her name [Swahili for brave] by following her much older sisters in climbing and walking around to explore the exhibit. The baby male spends much of his time gazing at the world around him as he holds onto his mom; he took his first steps during his second day on exhibit," said Mrsny.
The zoo has two "troops" of baboons, with 13 total animals, in the Baboon Cliffs Exhibit.
