There’ll be a lot of monkey business happening around Adelaide Zoo today as the Hamadryas Baboons prepare to celebrate a very special occasion, the first birthday of the troop’s youngest and cheekiest baboon, Tomkay.
Proud parents Chappi and Horus have had a word with zoo keepers and have a very special surprise organised for their little guy.
Primate Keeper Sophie Miller says Tomkay will be very excited when he receives a special birthday cake filled with his favourite treats.
“Tomkay was the first baboon infant to be born at the zoo in more than nine years, so he’s a pretty special member of the troop,” Sophie said.
“Like most toddlers he’s a mischievous little guy, he certainly keeps us on our toes and it’s hard not to laugh watching his cheeky antics.
“At one year old he’s relatively independent now but still enjoys a cuddle from mum from time to time.”
Tomkay shares a home with his parents, Grandma Gina, and three new female baboons which joined the family harem from Wellington Zoo last month.
Meanwhile at the zoo, with temperatures set to soar above forty degrees today and through Saturday, Adelaide Zoo keepers have their work cut out for them helping all of the zoo’s residents beat the heat.
Sprinklers, water misters, wading pools and cold treats of ice blocks filled with meat, fish or fruit are among tools utilised by keepers to prevent heat-related stress and help keep the animals cool during the scorching heat.
Visitors to Adelaide Zoo will be able to enjoy some respite from the heat under the water misters in the new Nature’s Playground or splash around in the water play zone that has water jets bursting from the ground.
On hot days the playful sea lions enjoy devouring fishy ice-blocks while the orang-utans cool off playing with a bucket of water and a garden hose.
