A First for Oakland Zoo’s Primate Collection (Image Credits: Facebook)
Oakland, California – The Oakland Zoo marked a significant milestone in February 2026 with the birth of Tumbili, its first red-tailed guenon monkey.[1][2] This healthy male infant arrived to parents Nonami and Marley, quickly bonding with the troop and drawing crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the newborn primate. The event highlighted the zoo’s successful breeding programs for African species.
A First for Oakland Zoo’s Primate Collection
Staff described the birth as a thrilling achievement, representing the zoo’s inaugural guenon monkey offspring.[3] Nonami, an experienced mother previously at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, delivered the baby earlier that month. Keepers monitored the pair closely, confirming both mother and infant remained strong from the start.[4]
The zoo celebrated with a welcome event, announcing Tumbili’s name – Swahili for “monkey” – amid troop enrichment activities. This addition strengthened the exhibit, showcasing the zoo’s commitment to primate conservation.[5] Visitors now observe the family in their naturalistic habitat, complete with climbing structures mimicking Central African forests.
Strong Family Bonds in the Troop
Nonami tends to Tumbili with attentive care, nursing him regularly while foraging. Father Marley and the extended family support the newborn’s integration. Tumbili’s half-sisters, Ikea and Skittles – also Nonami’s daughters from her prior home – display curiosity, occasionally grooming the infant.[6][3]…