Zookeepers “sprang into action” to hand-raise the baby after they noticed the mother was neglecting it. The baby must be bottle-fed every couple of hours for the first six months of her life.
“None of our females (macaques) of breeding age have raised a baby before so that is why keepers had to intervene,” said Kevin Drees, director of animal care and conservation at the zoo.
Baby macaques cling to their mom in the wild, so this special baby has several teddy bears to cling to in its enclosure.
Zoo officials are holding a raffle to name the baby macaque. Tickets cost $1 each and can be purchased at the zoo admissions desk. You can also fill out a form and mail it with $1
After the baby is weaned from the bottle, she will be introduced to the rest of the macaque troop at the zoo. Because she is not on exhibit, a webcam is available to watch her grow.
Watch the Live Stream of Japanese Macaque
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