WASHINGTON – The Smithsonian National Zoo celebrated a special birth on March 22 — the birth of a black howler monkey.

Zookeepers are monitoring the family at a distance, giving the baby monkey space to bond with first-time parents Chula, the mother, and Pele, the father. The sex of the baby has not been determined yet.

Chula and Pele are showing strong parenting skills and the baby monkey increases its activity and independence every day, zoo officials say.

Howler monkeys get their name from the unique voice box in their thick necks. It enables male howler monkeys to send a single rumbling growl through three miles of dense forest.

Because of these territorial calls, the monkeys hold the title of loudest animal in the New World, including North, Central and South America.

Visitors can see the howler family on exhibit in the Small Mammal House.

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