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A macaque named after Britain's Princess Charlotte won a monkey popularity contest for the second year in a row, a zoo in Oita Prefecture said Wednesday.
The most popular monkey competition was held at Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden, Fuji TV reported. Winners for both genders were chosen after a public vote. Charlotte, a one-year-old macaque, received 762 of 1,976 votes cast online and by visitors to the park. The best-looking male monkey was chosen out of three living monkeys and 13 deceased monkeys. The winner was the "legendary boss monkey" Bentsu, who became the leader of two different groups. He died in 2014 after going missing the previous year.
A total of 32 monkeys -- 16 females and 16 males -- were runners-up in the competition, being held for the second time.
A zookeeper told reporters that Charlotte's popularity was due to her controversial naming after the UK princess, and Bentsu remains strongly popular due to his charisma even after his death. The voting period was from Dec 23, 2016 until Jan 22.
The zoo was initially criticized for naming the macaque Charlotte because some people thought it was disrespectful to the young British princess. However, the zoo discussed the issue with the British embassy which said there would be no problem.
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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Moonraker
No royalist myself but I wonder if the Japanese embassy would have been so accommodating if a UK zoo had wanted to name a monkey after one of Japan's young royals.
Magnus Roe
Does the likelihood of the Japanese embassy staff being rigid have anything to do with what a zoo does?
TigersTokyoDome
Ah yes, the splendid British Embassy. A historic pile of property in the old kingdom of Hanzomon. Doing, well, doing something for Brits in Japan. I'm really glad that British taxpayers money is being well spent on a monkey naming advisory service..
patty cake champion
Their reaction: See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil.
joyridingonthetitanic
Could be worse I suppose! At least it wasn't a blowfish naming competition?
Mike L
Japanese girls really love macaque.
Pukey2
Forget about UK zoos, I wonder whether anyone in Oita or anywhere else in Japan would have named the macaque after a child in the imperial family. I have never seen any cartoon or cute character based on the imperial family in Japan, and yet when Prince William last came to Japan, they made a cartoon character of him. It seems royal families from Europe are fair game. Start at home please.
Tel Porter
I love how a monkey that has been dead since 2014 can still win "Most Handsome Monkey" awards.
Chop Chop
Moonracker. Our beloved little dog name was Ai-chan (Aiko) and Japan Princess name was Aiko too. It's just name and it isn't insulting to anyone. We named our dog Aiko because we love her. Peoples in civilized country named Zoo baby animal and their pet after someone who they have admired and loved. It was for to honor that person or child who they admired and loved. However, naming animal and pet after someone may be insulting in Muslim Countries.
5SpeedRacer5
I would not name Macaque after royalty. I think a better name is "Welcome to the Dominican Republic. Have a nice day. " And the name should be tattooed.
That would be a prize winner.
choiwaruoyaji
The Japanese monkeys always make me laugh.
It's fun to watch their silly antics.
Always enjoy watching Japanese monkeys.