Primates

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Primates

In the primate order there are 3 families and approximately 235 species. It includes humans, apes, monkeys, lemurs and other less well-known species. The word primate means “the first” and comes from earlier beliefs that these animals were superior to all others in intelligence. While it is true that non-human primates are highly intelligent, there are other animals such as whales, elephants and dolphins that are comparable in their cognitive abilities.

In the wild there are over 100 species of primates that are at risk of extinction. Habitat loss is leading to this threat.

Darwin

DOB: 10/4/04
FCZS: 6/20/05
Sex: Male
Weight: 2.5 lbs.

Incredibly adorable, Darwin, is a cynomolgus macaque. Macaque monkeys are widely used in medical research and Darwin was the result of an unexpected pregnancy at a research laboratory.

Wallace

DOB: 4/19/05
FCZS: 10/12/06
Sex: Male
Weight: 2.6 lbs.

Wallace can be identified by his unique “hairdo” that comes to a peak at the top of his head. Like his roommate Darwin, he too came to FCZS from a research facility. In his previous home he had spent time with many other monkeys, so moving in with Darwin was rather normal for him. Both males are quite young so issues of dominance were not a problem. What Wallace was completely fascinated with was dirt. Apparently he had never seen it before in his laboratory home. He also had not learned techniques for swinging on ropes, climbing rock walls or splashing in a pool. With Darwin’s demonstrations, Wallace was in no time doing all of the above. Both youngsters spend hours each day tumbling, racing, climbing, splashing and creating general mayhem in their new home in Folsom

Monita

DOB: March 1995
FCZS: 3/8/96
Sex: Female
Weight: 1.3 lbs

Spanish for ‘little monkey’, Monita arrived at the Folsom Zoo in October 1998. Like her fellow squirrel monkeys, she had been abandoned by her mother and needed lots of special care. Monita is the most shy (or maybe most stubborn) of the FCZS troop. She is currently the only female, though plans are to add another female to the group.

Orinoco

DOB: 7/26/97
FCZS: 8/11/97
Sex: Male
Weight: 2.65 lbs.

Arriving in 1997, Orinoco was one of the tiniest residents at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. He weighed a mere 4 ounces and needed a great deal of care. Having been rejected by his mother at UC Davis, Orinoco arrived in an incubator and needed constant attention.

Named after one of the longest rivers in South America, Orinoco is now an adult. He has gained a bulked up, muscular body; and despite his small weight is an impressive presence within the troop.