The Santa Barbara Zoo is welcoming two white-faced saki monkeys, the first of its kind at the zoo.
Three-year-old Calabaza came to the zoo from Miami, where he lived with his parents and two-year-old sister.
Two-year-old Penelope came from Glays Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.
Zoo officials say the two monkeys were matched by the Species Survival Plan and have a breeding recommendation.
“Penelope has settled in well and while she’s still a bit shy, she has been opening up and starting to show her personality more and more,” said Kristen Wieners, zoological manager and training facilitator at the Santa Barbara Zoo. “Calabaza is very curious about everything and anything in his surroundings and is also quite the talker when he gets excited. We are in the process of introducing the two to each other, and so far things are going well.”
White-faced sakis are small tree-dwelling primates from South America.
They're named after the male monkey's appearance. Female sakis look different with brownish-gray hair.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is participating in the white-faced saki Species Survival Plan through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Due to the recent stay-at-home orders, the zoo is temporarily closed.
For more information on the zoo and its virtual features, click here.
