For the past two and a half months, AVC has been home to a very special little patient—an orphaned squirrel monkey from the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton, New Brunswick. Named Sheldon after a character in the popular television show The Big Bang Theory, the monkey was born on New Year’s Day. Unfortunately his mother died soon after the birth, and the infant monkey was taken to AVC where he has been receiving 24-hour care from Dr. Marion Desmarchelier, Assistant Professor of Zoo, Exotic Animals and Wildlife Medicine, and a team of technicians and veterinary students.

Now over two months old, Sheldon is healthy and active, and beginning to eat solid food such as monkey chow and fruit. Recently, about 50 Grade Five students from Montague Consolidated School asked to meet Sheldon as part of their classroom work on zoos. The students were excited to see Sheldon and peppered Dr. Desmarchelier with questions about him. They presented him with new toys and a framed photo of himself, which they signed. Sheldon will return to the Magnetic Hill Zoo on Sunday, March 20.