Rare snow monkey born at Minnesota Zoo

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: May 1, 2008 - 9:33 AM

The Minnesota Zoo today announced the birth of a rare snow monkey.

"Tama" was born Saturday and represents the zoo's fifth snow monkey birth since 2004. The baby's mother's name is Suzi.

Snow monkeys can only be seen at nine other accredited zoos in the United States, and legend has it that the snow monkey is the species depicted in the ancient visual maxim, "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."

This year, the Minnesota Zoo will begin supporting field research on snow monkeys at the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University in Japan.

Snow monkeys are medium-sized primates recognized by their reddish-colored faces, whiskers/beards, and long, dense brown fur.

They originate from Japan and live in troops ranging from 25 to more than 500 individuals. They stand anywhere from 2 to 4 feet tall and weigh 20 to 40 pounds. The males are twice as large as females.

Snow monkeys have a complex system of communication including more than 30 vocal sounds and a wide range of facial and body expressions. They eat fruit, roots, leaves, insects, crops such as rice, maize and potatoes.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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