Beardsley Zoo Welcomes New Female Spider Monkey, Public Invited to Name Her

The Bridgeport zoo is holding an online poll for the public to choose between three nature-inspired names for the newborn primate.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo has welcomed a new female Black-handed Spider Monkey, born in December 2025. The zoo is inviting the public to participate in an online poll to select the baby monkey's name from three options - Esperanza, Mirabel, and Reyna - inspired by the animal's natural habitat. The public can vote through March 5, and the winning name will be announced on March 6 via the zoo's social media.

Why it matters

The birth of this spider monkey highlights the Beardsley Zoo's commitment to conservation and cooperative breeding initiatives for this endangered primate species native to Central and South America. Public engagement through the naming poll helps raise awareness about the threats Black-handed Spider Monkeys face from habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade.

The details

The new female Black-handed Spider Monkey was born in December 2025 and is thriving under the care of her experienced mother, Janet, who arrived at the Beardsley Zoo in 2022. The zoo is inviting the public to vote on a name for the baby monkey through an online poll featuring three options - Esperanza (meaning 'hope'), Mirabel (meaning 'wonderful'), and Reyna (meaning 'queen') - all inspired by the spider monkey's tropical forest habitat.

  • The baby monkey was born in December 2025.
  • The public voting period runs until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • The winning name will be announced at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026.

The players

Beardsley Zoo

A zoo located in Bridgeport, Connecticut that is committed to conservation, education, and cooperative breeding initiatives for endangered species like the Black-handed Spider Monkey.

Janet

The experienced and attentive mother of the newborn female Black-handed Spider Monkey at the Beardsley Zoo.

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What’s next

The winning name for the new Black-handed Spider Monkey will be announced to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026, via the Beardsley Zoo's social media platforms.

The takeaway

The public naming poll for the Beardsley Zoo's new female Black-handed Spider Monkey helps raise awareness about the importance of conservation efforts for this endangered primate species and the zoo's role in supporting their survival through breeding programs.