There are a bevy of baby animals at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo this spring, including a baby black howler monkey, a baby Reed titi monkey and a litter of baby capybaras.
The baby male howler monkey was born April 26 to mom, Maxine, 12, and dad, Oz, 16. The baby brings the Zoo's total of howlers to five. They are all on exhibit in the Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building.
Black howler monkeys are native to South America. They have prehensile tails that help them navigate through the trees in their rain forest habitat. Howler monkeys get their name from the distinctive sound they make by forcing air through the resonating chamber formed by their enlarged lower jaw. This sound is used to warn other monkey troops from straying too close to the group.
The Reed titi monkey was born a few days later in the Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building. The baby male titi was born April 29 to mom, Nelson, and dad, Ziggy, both 11. Titis are also native to South America, and spend the majority of their time in the trees. Titis form strong group bonds and are often seen intertwining their tails together when they sit side by side.
The Zoo's new capybara babies were born shortly after 7 a.m. on May 12 in The RainForest. The four healthy baby capybaras bring the Zoo's group up to nine total. Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world. They can grow up to 4.5 feet long and weigh up to 150 pounds. They are native to South America and can be found throughout most of the continent east of the Andes Mountains.
The Zoo breeds capybaras as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Program which are cooperative breeding and management groups that maintain healthy and genetically viable zoo animal populations.
Northeast Ohio's most-visited year-round attraction, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with hours extended to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is $12.25 per person, $8.25 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for children younger than 2 and Zoo members. Parking is free. Located at 3900 Wildlife Way, the Zoo is easily accessible from Interstates 71, 90 and 480.
For more information, visit clemetzoo.com or call (216) 661-6500.
