Baby Chimpanzee Born

The fruits of cooperation between Dallas and Fort Worth were on display today, in the form of a bouncing baby chimpanzee.

The 25-day-old chimp is the son of K.C., the last chimpanzee born at the Dallas Zoo, and Ramona, a female brought to the Dallas Zoo from Fort Worth more than a year ago.

Zookeepers have been keeping the baby boy in seclusion with his parents and the zoo’s five other chimps so the troop could bond, said zoo spokeswoman Susan Eckert

Today was the baby's official coming-out.

Actually, it was his second venture into the zoo’s Kimberly Clark Chimpanzee Forest. Not wanting any public monkey business, zoo officials had the troop test the habitat in a dry run Tuesday, Eckert said.

K.C., named for his habitat’s sponsor, has established himself as the troop’s alpha male in the 12 years since his birth. (The previous alpha male died several years ago of a stroke. He was 49.)

Since K.C. was not attracted to the older females in Dallas, Ramona was brought in from the Fort Worth Zoo.

The new arrival has not yet been named. The zoo wants to leave that task to the public, in a contest that runs through May 31. A one-year family membership to the Dallas Zoo will be awarded to the winner.

People can enter the naming contest online at http://www.dallaszoo.com/

or by picking up a form at the zoo."

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