DES MOINES, Iowa — Blank Park Zoo has announced that late Saturday it welcomed a baby Japanese macaque, also known as a snow monkey.
The zoo reports that both the baby and her mother Miya are doing well and are healthy.
The troop of macaques at Blank Park is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, which began in 1981 and works to guarantee the health, stability and survival of many different species.
Miya was born at Blank Park on April 20, 2012. The new baby is her third after Gigi, a female born in 2017 and Shoyo, a male born in 2020.
The public is invited to go to BlankParkZoo.com and click on the Safari Soirée banner to participate in a silent auction for the ability to name the newborn while supporting the nonprofit zoo.
Bidding will be open until Sept. 7 at 8 p.m., according to the zoo.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome this beautiful baby girl into our zoo family. This birth not only brings joy to our team and visitors but also underscores our ongoing dedication to species conservation and education,” Blank Park Zoo President & CEO Anne Shimerdla said. “It’s a wonderful reminder of the incredible work being done every day to protect and preserve wildlife.”
Blank Park encourages visitors to come see the baby during the park hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The park will be closed Thursday to prepare for the park's annual Safari Soirée celebration.
