$650,000 Bid Wins Auction to Name New Monkey Species

The right to name a new species of monkey discovered by the Wildlife Conservation Society in Bolivia’s Madidi National Park, sold for a whopping $650,000 in an online auction hosted by Charity Folks, a leading online auction venue for nonprofits.  The auction, which sparked global interest, including Hollywood celebrities, ended on March 3rd in a flurry of bids.  All of the proceeds go to Bolivia’s park service to help protect the monkey’s unique rainforest home.

"The Internet just became a safety net for this monkey and Madidi National Park," said Wildlife Conservation Society President and CEO Dr. Steven Sanderson.

The winner and official name of the monkey will be announced shortly, according to WCS officials.

WCS discovered the brown-and-orange monkey last year in Bolivia’s Madidi National Park, which is considered the most biologically rich protected area on.  Very little is known about the new monkey except that it stands about a foot tall, weighs two pounds and likes fruit.  In the morning, pairs of them gather and “duet,” calling back and forth while clutching each other in what resembles a human embrace.

Madidi National Park, established in 1995, contains a stunning array of habitat types – from lowland forests to alpine meadows surrounded by glaciers – all in an area about the size of New Jersey.  Besides the new monkey, inside its borders live healthy populations of jaguars, giant river otters, over 1,000 bird species and many varieties of rare orchids and other unique plants.

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