Golden monkeys » Los Angeles Zoo

09-10-2008

I'm sorry to tell you that they are not here yet. About two weeks ago I found out that the zoo is testing the exhibit if it's safe enough for the monkeys and if there is anyway the monkeys could escape. The funny thing is that they are testing it with a male red-capped mangabey (which will be moving to another collection really soon), which is known for escaping and destroying exhibits.

09-10-2008

... if he's as bad as he sounds, he should give the exhibit a good testing; if it survives him, hopefully it will contain the golden monkeys!

09-10-2008

He is bad, he was even removed from the three females because he didn't leave them alone, so the zoo decided that he should go to another zoo (don't know which). Before he leaves, he has been put in the golden monkey exhibit to test it out (testing is all that's left to do to the exhibit), surprisingly he hasn't destroyed the plants inside the exhibit (yet).

16-10-2008

The only thing is Mangabeys are 'walkers and climbers', whereas Golden Monkeys are powerful leapers. So just because the Magabey doesn't escape, doesn't mean the Golden Monkeys might not be able to....

17-10-2008

You have a point there.

I was at the zoo last week and the mangabey was not in the exhibit anymore, so that may mean that they are done with testing. All that is left to do is wait for the monkeys.

17-10-2008

Any idea how many are due?

17-10-2008

Yeah, we are due to get 1.2 from the Beijing Wildlife Park.

17-10-2008

Nice, would that be a ten year loan with them?

17-10-2008

Yup, it's a ten year loan. I read somewhere that the LA zoo was a candidated to receive Giant Pandas at first, but since SD zoo was so close and already had pandas, China decided to award the golden monkeys instead. I need to look for the article again, even though I read it back in 2001 or 2002. I think the article was from the LA times.

20-10-2008

i'd love to see that article!!

25-02-2009

As I recall from the article, the mayor of Los Angeles and a team of delegates went to China on a trade mission. (As everyone knows, L.A. is a huge port for ships with goods from Asia). One of the mayor's goals, besides the usual trade negotiations, was to try to get a pair of pandas for the zoo. They turned him down and offered golden monkeys instead, I think as a sort of consolation prize. I don't remember any specific reasons being given, but I suppose San Diego may have had something to do with it (not sure on this).

FYI, the China Pavilion that was used to house the temporary panda visit back in 1984 and then housed snow leopards for a few years has been closed to visitors for many years. It now houses red uakaris (only ones in U.S. zoo?), which apparently were suffering from stress when they were on public display.

Blackduiker
15-03-2009

Not wanting to burst any bubbles, including my own, I was recently informed at a GLAZA charter members only breakfast by one of the zoo docents, that the LA city council voted to no longer support the funding for the Golden Monkeys, and that the zoo would probably be exhibiting some other species of Asian primate in that space. Possibly langurs. See my recent post on the Los Angeles Zoo news thread. Remember, this all comes on the heels of the recent elephant exhibit city council vote. I am a new ZooChat member, but a long time member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association(40+ years).

Believe me, I'm hoping the information is incorrect, but the docent seemed pretty down about it. Maybe the zoo through private donors will still make it happen, but I can live with langurs if need be. When you've been around as long as I, you learn to roll with the flow. Another ZooChat member (Mstickmanp) is at the zoo investigating at this very moment. Hopefully he can fill us in further.

15-03-2009

Well, I asked three people from the zoo and all did not know anything, they even told me that they had not even heard what Blackduiker said, so lets hope that the monkeys will be here.

Blackduiker
20-03-2009

UPDATE:
Well this is the latest from someone at the zoo who would know. After leaving a message with this individual, I received a voice message on my cell phone that they didn't know where this docent received his information, which was incorrect, but they are definitely still awaiting the Golden Monkeys. There is no problem with still funding them to be here, and the delay is from the other side of the ocean and not with L.A. Everything is ready for their arrival.

It seems that China needed more of a deadline, so the zoo director (not the individual that contacted me) has informed them that he would like to see the Monkeys here by May. As to why they haven't been sent yet is baffling to everyone at the zoo.

We're still very much on track to see them here in Los Angeles! Hopefully by May.

20-03-2009

Great news! Hopefully this time the monkeys do arrive in time.