Auckland Zoo’s Black-handed spider monkey troop was founded by four animals imported from the USA in 1964. The troop has bred well over many generations and has numbered as high as the mid-20s.
They currently have one adult male named Toque (born 2007), who was imported from Toronto Zoo in 2017; and six adult females, all born at Auckland Zoo. There are also three juveniles in the troop (all females) - Belize born 03/08/2018 to Brianna; Jeanie born 04/10/2018 to Jalisco; and Kiaro born 02/11/2018 to Kelly.
Auckland Zoo has continued their tradition of naming spider monkeys with the same letter as their mother for many years. A research paper from 1992 lists several infants with B, J and K names.
