Watch: Guianan squirrel monkey born at San Diego Zoo
I'm happy for the little monkey, truly. Any birth is a good birth, and the San Diego Zoo has a solid track record. But I can't shake the feeling that this story is a decoy. A Guianan squirrel monkey is about as exotic as a housecat to anyone who's been to a zoo, yet here we are treating it like a headline. That's the kind of thing that makes me wonder what else happened that day that they're not telling us about.
The species is from northern South America, and now it's in Southern California. That's a long way for a squirrel monkey to travel without a passport. The zoo says it's all natural, but I'd want to know how many other animals are being born behind the scenes while we're all staring at one cute face. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but in this line of work, the ordinary stuff is usually the cover story.
I'll keep an eye on this monkey. If it starts exhibiting unusual intelligence or a fondness for electronics, we'll know the truth. Until then, congratulations to the parents and the zoo staff. Just don't expect me to stop asking questions.