Kinah Learns to Swim
Posted at 4:49 pm July 12, 2007 by Kecia Spears
Swamp monkeys are known for their ability to swim (Ota is pictured here.). If your timing is right, you can see them swim in the waterways of their exhibit in Ituiri Forest at the San Diego Zoo. They look like large, lean frogs, fully submerged under the water, gracefully slicing their way through the water. I was fortunate enough to witness Kinah's first swim on July 10 (see Kecia's previous blog, Kinah's Best Friend). She began by meandering out on a log that was placed in the water. Kinah had been on the log before. It allows her to walk through the water while keeping it shallow enough so that it only submerges her hands and feet and, at lower points, her entire arms and legs as well.
I watched her as she strolled out to the deepest part of the log like before, yet this day was different. Kinah had a shine to her eye and you could tell the gears were turning in her head. Without a moment's hesitation, she suddenly leaped from the log as far as she could, landing in a deep pool of water! She began lapping around like a dog in water, but quickly dove under, looking like an expert swimmer! As a new swimmer, I'm sure it fatigued her quickly as she only made a few jumps and laps before crawling back onto shore. Once back on land, she looked totally refreshed and the shine in her eyes was even brighter!
Kecia Spears is a keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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July 12th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Kinah is one amazing little monkey! She is just full of new thrills, and can probably hardly contain herself from excitement.
Watching how cautious the panda, tiger, and lion mothers are about their young ones exploring new situations like that, I am curious about Bunzi's reaction.Was Bunzi nearby when she went for her first swim? Since she tends to protect Kinah, as an adopted mother, it would seem logical that either Bunzi or one of her young friends would have been nearby.
Do the monkeys swim in the same area as the otters? If so that must be some sight when they are all out in the water at the same time.
July 13th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Yay little Kinah! You go girl!!
July 14th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Kinah has been seen swimming alone as well as with her friends. Bunzi is calm yet watchful. Big brother Jaribu seems to be the most protective. The monkeys and otters do share the same swimming space and can be seen swimming at the same time on occassion. Spot-necked otter Mugo (born in January) especially enjoys swimming and playing with the monkeys as does her big brother Khalil.
July 16th, 2007 at 7:36 am
Thanks, Kecia,
I can just picture one big swimming party with young otters and young monkeys having a ball chasing each other and enjoying their cooling swim. Do they playfully chase each other on land? I love the picture of the otter in the water watching, and possibly playing with, the monkey tail on the branch above.
July 16th, 2007 at 10:10 am
boys what a sight it must be to watch Kinah jump and leap about and swim like a pro. all this energy is from the love and attention she has gotten .It's great to see her so happy. Thanks to all of you who made this happen for her,she sure is one tough girl.