Iniko means born in troubled times, and it’s the name of the zoo’s newest monkey.

Iniko is a hungry, curious, high-flying Patas monkey. She was born at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in June, but she doesn’t live at the zoo.

“I got a call one day on my day off and said I’m bringing home a monkey,” said Leisje Meates, an animal handler at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

Meates got that call from her husband Dan. They both work at the zoo.

“The best day since we brought her home? I’d say when she became more mobile really. Wouldn’t you say?” said Dan, the zoo's general curator.

Iniko’s mom did not survive after giving birth, so the Meateses became her foster parents. Of course, fostering involves feeding. Iniko drinks baby formula and eats fruits and vegetables.

“Right now we’re still steaming some of her vegetables just because she is still getting in some of her teeth," explained Leisje.

At first, Iniko only lived at the Meates’ house. When she was first born, Iniko needed a bottle every two hours so the Meateses had many long nights. Recently, they started bringing her back and forth from the zoo every day.

It doesn’t take long for Iniko to make the conference room her playroom. That's where she spends most of her time at the zoo. The zookeepers have baby-proofed the room. There are covers over the outlets, surfaces are sanitized frequently, and there are plenty of toys. While Iniko is playing, the Meates are recording everything. This is the first time anyone in North America has ever hand-reared a Patas monkey.

“I supposed as a new parent that happens anyways but if she didn’t drink quite as much or if she was a little fussier than normal we would just be so panicky,” said Leisje.

Iniko is at home in Lisje’s arms but in a few months she’ll move into the zoo full-time. The goal is to integrate her with the troop so she finds a new family.