FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL: Baby Black howler monkey born at Birmingham Zoo

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Birmingham Zoo
Baby Southern black howler monkey born at Birmingham Zoo on June 6, 2024 (Birmingham Zoo)

Just in time for Father’s Day, the Birmingham Zoo has welcomed a new baby Southern black howler monkey.

Third black howler monkey born at the zoo

Birmingham Zoo
Monte, Southern black howler monkey with his two daughters (Birmingham Zoo)

The little one was born on June 6th to mom, Matea and dad, Monte. Presently, the gender of the new baby is unknown.

Matea and Monte have lived at the zoo since 2017. This is their third “kid” in three years – the other two are girls named Miko who is three and Myla, who is a year and a half. The family of five live together in the black howler monkey habitat in the Primates and South America Building.

Want to say hello to the newborn? They will be out and about this Father’s Day weekend at the Birmingham Zoo.

Why this matters

Black howler monkeys are rare.

This family is the result of a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ black howler monkey Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative management program that ensures healthy, sustainable populations in AZA zoos.

Have you seen our local Black howler monkey family at the Birmingham Zoo?  Tell us your favorite story about them on Instagram by tagging us at @bhamnow!

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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