If you were WONDERING what they finally named the baboons at the Prospect Park Zoo, here’s the latest. If, like me, you didn’t know that there was even a contest to name those baboons, here’s the story. And the names.

After three weeks of online polling and more than a thousand name submissions, the wo Hamadryas baboon babies are officially named. And the names are – Jabari and Azizi.

After giving careful consideration to all of the names submitted online, the staff of WCS’s Prospect Park Zoo chose a pair of Egyptian names to represent the area from which the Hamadryas baboons are found in the wild.  Jabari means brave in Egyptian, and Azizi means precious.  Besides Egypt , Hamadryas baboons are found in Eritrea , Ethiopia , Somalia , and on the Arabian Peninsula .

If you’d like to meet the baboons, their next big event is the annual Boo at the Zoo celebration Saturday October 30 and Sunday, October 31.  The troop will receive pumpkins in the spirit of the holiday – surely a sight to see.

The Hamadryas baboon exhibit is located in the zoo’s Animal Lifestyles Building along with tamarin monkeys, piranhas, and Pallas cats.  Jabari and Azizi are on exhibit with their family from 10am-2pm daily until November 1^st when their exhibit time will change.  Hours will be posted at www.prospectparkzoo.com.