Milwaukee Zoo celebrated a 'baby boom' when two Japanese macaques were born there in one week, and a bonobo just weeks later.
Milwaukee Zoo Sees 'Baby Boom' With 3 Monkeys Born in the Span of Weeks
Milwaukee County Zoo in Cincinatti has had a BIG handful of months lately.
The zoo welcomed not one, not two, but three baby monkeys this summer all in the span of a few weeks — and they've been celebrating appropriately.
The first two babies were Japanese macaques, while the third was a bonobo. SO sweet!
Usagi the macaque cradles her baby.
On June 13, the zoo announced the first birth: 12-year-old Japanese macaque Usagi had welcomed a little one on June 8, fathered by 10-year-old macaque Kota.
The little one was Usagi's second offspring, and the zoo's 11th macaque.
Then, on June 18, the zoo called it a "baby boom" as a second baby Japanese macaque had arrived days prior.
This one was born to a 12-year-old female Rikka, who had previously given birth to three other babies.
Rikka the macaque takes care of her newborn.
On July 24, we were treated to a new update: Both babies were male and were named according to their heritage.
Usagi's offspring was named Chihiro, which means either "thousand fathoms" or "thousand fields" in Japanese; Rikka's little one was named Kinji after the anthropologist Imanishi Kinji, a top primate researcher. Kinji, the zoo explained in a news update, means either "happiness" or "respect" — fitting given how much happiness this news has given us.
The zoo had a baby boom year.
But it wasn't over!
On July 2, Milwaukee County Zoo wrote on social media, "Our baby boom continues! Please help us welcome the newest member of the bonobo troop! 💚"
The post continued, "The baby was born May 30 to first-time mom Elema, who is a highly attentive mother and holds her baby close or cradles the new addition in her lap. The animal care team noted that the entire troop helped Elema during the birth, gathering around her to support and protect. The troop will play a supportive role in the social development of the baby for many years."
People in the comments section were incredibly excited for this wonderful news, with many sharing their congratulations with the zoo (and the new monkey mom).
Bonobo Elema nurses her newborn.
Even before the sweet monkeys were born, Milwaukee Zoo really was having a vintage year.
In March, a female penguin chick hatched — she was named Rhubarb (or "Roo") as the result of a public contest, the zoo announced in July.
And in April, Bactrian camel A.J. gave birth to a male calf named Baatar, fathered by male camel Stan.
Good news on good news on good news!