Naming competition for baby howler monkeys at Birmingham Zoo

By WVUA 23 Digital Reporter Madison Brainerd

Birmingham Zoo has a new addition and needs your help in naming it. On June 6, a baby female Southern Black Howler Monkey was born to mother Matea and father Monte.

“We are very excited to welcome another healthy baby howler monkey to the Birmingham Zoo family,” said Chris Pfefferkorn, CEO and President of Birmingham Zoo.

This is the third addition to the family in the last three years. The baby has two sisters, three-year-old Miko and one-and-a-half-year-old Myla. Visit Birmingham Zoo’s Instagram or Facebook pages and vote for your favorite by Friday, September 27 at 12:00 noon.

Here are the three name options:

• Mei (pronounced May)
• Meera
• Table Mountain

The family of five are still adjusting to their new surroundings and split their time between their indoor and outdoor enclosures in the Primate and South America buildings. The baby howler monkey is best seen at Birmingham Zoo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Monte, the father, was born on December 9, 2014 and has been at Birmingham Zoo since May 2017. Matea, the mother, was born on April 26, 2013 and also came to Birmingham Zoo in May 2017. Miko was born on May 3, 2021 and Myla was born on November 26, 2022.

The monkey family is the result of the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan, a cooperative management program that ensures healthy, sustainable populations in AZA zoos.

“The howler monkeys are just one example of your zoo’s efforts to protect and conserve animals from around the world,” said Pfefferkorn. “Now we need your help in choosing their name.”

Howler monkeys are native to South America and are the loudest land animals in the Western Hemisphere. The monkeys are born blonde, but the males’ fur turns black as they reach adulthood, usually around three years of age. Howler monkeys are the largest monkeys in the Latin American rainforests and are found in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina. In the wild, howler monkeys live for about 15 to 20 years. In human care, they can often live to be 20 years old.

Birmingham Zoo thanks the community for their continued support and enthusiasm for conservation efforts. This baby monkey serves as a reminder of the importance of conserving and protecting species for future generations to enjoy.