The islands are located in the original Deer Park lagoon that was used as an ice skating rink and fishing pond at Riverview Park. These islands provide the summer home for some of the Zoo's swinging primates.
Banyan Tree
Spider and squirrel monkeys live in a man-made Banyan tree on one of the islands in the lagoon. The Banyan tree opened in June of 2003. The Banyan tree is 45 feet tall and 60 feet in diameter with dozens and dozens of branches. The monkeys live in the tree during the summer. During the cooler evenings, the monkeys can visit the inside of the tree that is heated for additional protection.
Spider Monkeys
Spider monkeys have long legs and tails in relation to their body size. The tail is prehensile and extremely flexible; enhancing the hook-like action of its hands are their long fingers. Their agility in the trees is exceeded only by the gibbons. Troop size varies according to the supply of fruit, the mainstay of its diet. Sexes are similar in size and color. The spider monkey's niche is high in forest canopy, rarely descending to ground. They are hunted for food over much of their shrinking range which is from Mexico south to northern Columbia.
Squirrel Monkeys
Squirrel monkeys have a white face, with a dark crown and a dark area around the mouth, and nostrils that sit sideways on their face. Their tail is gray with a black tip. They are not able to grasp things with their tail; instead, they use their hands and feet, which have pointed curved nails. Squirrel monkeys live in forest trees, usually along streams in Central and South America. They are active during the day and are highly vocal. The squirrel monkey is considered the most abundant and least threatened primate in Amazonia, although habitat loss is rapidly changing their status.
Capuchin Monkeys
The other island is home to spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys. Capuchin monkeys are very intelligent. The capuchin's body is slender with thin limbs and a long hairy tail. The capuchin's head is round with darker hairs at the back of the head. They are native to Southern Central America.
White-Handed Gibbon or Lar Gibbon
Gibbons are also found on the monkey islands. The white-handed gibbon or lar gibbon is the smallest of apes. The name gibbon means "dweller in the trees." Middle and upper rain forest canopies of Southeast Asia, and the tropical forests of Burma, Malay Peninsula are the gibbon's home. They are highly specialized brachiators, using the forelimbs (fully extended overhead) to suspend and propel their body through space by means of "hand-over-hand" progression. Their hands are used as hooks rather than to grasp. This arm swinging provides the momentum to cross up to 30 ft. gaps between trees. Gibbons are extremely vocal, marking territory at sunrise and sunset by shrieking and hooting. They are afraid of water and incapable of swimming. A water barrier is an effective enclosure.
Koi
Hundreds of koi swim in the waters surrounding the monkey islands. Visitors can purchase food to feed the koi from a covered bridge overlooking the man-made banyan tree. Koi, or Japanese carp, are bred for their colors. Called "living flowers" by the Japanese who stock small ponds with the fish; with land at a premium, the fish take the place of flower gardens. Koi are extremely hardy; they can tolerate freezing water for months (providing it isn't frozen solid), and water temperatures as high as 100 degrees. The koi population at Omaha's Zoo began with two small groups of hatchlings sent from Omaha's sister city, Shizuoka, in the early 1970's.