CT's Beardsley Zoo Welcomes Female Spider Monkey; Public Asked To Name Her

BRIDGEPORT, CT – Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo has a new, female Black-handed Spider Monkey, born in December, and the zoo is inviting the public to participate in an online poll to select her name.

Three name options, inspired by the spider monkey’s natural habitat, have been provided for the public to choose from:

• Esperanza (hope)
• Mirabel (wonderful)
• Reyna (queen)

The public can cast votes for the baby monkey's name until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 5. Only votes submitted through this online link, https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/yvWxLTE/spidermonkey, will be counted.

— Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is asking the public to vote on a new name for a new Black-handed Spider Monkey, which was born in December. Photo credit: Victoria Hackman

The baby monkey is thriving under the care of her mother, Janet, which arrived at the Beardsley Zoo in 2022 and is described as an experienced and attentive mother. The birth of this spider monkey highlights the zoo's commitment to conservation, education, and cooperative breeding initiatives.

Black-handed Spider Monkeys are native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. These monkeys are crucial for maintaining healthy rainforest ecosystems. The species faces threats from habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade. Births like this are considered significant for the species' conservation efforts.

The winning name for the new Black-handed Spider Monkey will be announced to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 6, via the Bearsley Zoo social media platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConnecticutsBeardsleyZoo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctbeardsleyzoo/?hl=en