Oakland Zoo welcomes baby baboon ‘Mimi’

Visitors to the Oakland Zoo can now get a glimpse of one of its newest additions, a baby baboon named Mimi.

The female hamadryas baboon was born in the early hours of May 21. Zookeepers arrived at work that morning to find the baby nursing with its mother, 9-year-old Maya, according to Oakland Zoo spokeswoman Nicky Mora.

Mora said Mimi is only the third baby baboon to be born at the zoo over the last year and a half. Mimi’s two older siblings, Mocha and Kodee, are “very curious about their little sister,” the spokeswoman said, and the older baboons are also reacting well to her.

Zoological Manager Margaret Rousser said:

“This new baby is great because not only do we have parent-raised baboons, but the other two youngsters are able to witness and participate in infant care, which will only make them better mothers in the future.”

Mimi’s parents were brought to Oakland from the Emmen Zoo in the Netherlands last year following breeding recommendations by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Oakland Zoo officials said.

The public can see the Oakland Zoo’s two baboon troops daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the 8,100-square-foot Baboon Cliffs exhibit.