The Lincoln Park Zoo (LP Zoo) monkey family just got a little bit bigger.
An adorable colobus monkey infant was born at the zoo last month—and now staff are asking for the public’s help to name the cuddly creature.
Here’s everything to know about the monkey baby and where to cast your vote.
Meet the LP Zoo’s new monkey friend
On the morning of September 24, 2026, the LP Zoo’s resident colobus monkeys, 7-year-old Nola and 11-year-old Oku, became parents to a male infant.
The newborn is Nola’s first offspring. Zoo staff have been carefully monitoring the pair, and both appear to be adjusting well.
Colobus monkeys are a native species of central Africa, identifiable by their signature long black-and-white coats.
The fluffy primates are highly social animals, often living in groups of up to 15 monkeys and spending the majority of their lives in trees.
Nola and her new baby will now live and play with the zoo’s broader colobus monkey pack, and be on view to zoogoers intermittently.
“Nola is already proving to be a great mom, and we’re excited to see how the other females in the troop develop their parenting abilities with the baby, which is common for colobus monkeys,” said Curator Dani Fogarty.
Help the LP Zoo name its newest monkey friend
With the colobus monkey baby settling in, the LP Zoo needs your help to give him a proper name.
Chicagoans can now vote for one of four name options which pay tribute to the monkey’s native African homeland:
- Moshi – east African word for “smoke.”
- Nuru – “light” or “brightness” in East African languages.
- Ndogo – Swahili word meaning small animal or person.
- Mbega – Swahili word for the colobus monkey.
Voting is open now through November 11.
Click here to cast your vote and plan your next zoo visit.
