Oldest Snow Monkey In North America Celebrates 33rd Birthday
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Oldest Snow Monkey in North America celebrated Wednesday its 33rd birthday at the Minnesota Zoo.
Nikko is North America's oldest snow monkey and has lived at Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley since 2001, CBS Minnesota reports.
"Nikko arrived at the Minnesota Zoo in 2001," said Tom Ness, Minnesota and Tropics Trail Curator. "Since that time, he's been a great animal to have in the troop."
Nikko's personality is believed to be what has kept him alive for so long, Ness said.
Nikko has lived 99.5 percent longer than other known male snow monkeys, according to Minnesota Zoo.
And from old to young, Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed a second Snow Money baby back in March this year.
11-year-old Izumi gave birth to a female and chose her name through touchscreen computer technology. In keeping with the zoo's tradition of naming the snow monkeys after Japanese cities, the monkeys' native habitat, Izumi had the choice between Ikoma or Iwaki.
Izumi chose Iwaki. Check out Izumi choosing the name of her baby on a touch-screen computer.
In May 2015, another one of the zoo's snow monkeys, Ono gave birth to Obu, the first snow monkey to be born at Lincoln Park Zoo.
In early 2015, Lincoln Park Zoo created a new exhibit, the Regenstein Macaque Forest, for their Japanese macaques, otherwise known as snow monkeys. The exhibit is now home to 12 snow monkeys and is open daily.