World
No Offense to Royals: Monkey in Japan Keeps Name Charlotte
A newborn baby monkey named Charlotte clings to her mother at Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita, southern Japan Friday, May 8, 2015. The monkey born in the Japanese zoo will keep its name Charlotte, after all. Oita city officials settled a dayslong national debate over whether calling the monkey Charlotte offends its British royal namesake. The officials say they will stick to their first choice because there was no protest from Britain’s royal family. (Kyodo News via AP)
TOKYO (AP) — A monkey born in a Japanese zoo will keep its name Charlotte, after all.
Oita city officials settled a national debate over whether calling the monkey Charlotte offends its British royal namesake.
The officials said Friday they will stick to their first choice because there was no protest from Britain’s royal family.
“We have decided to respect the feelings of the people who voted for the name to congratulate the birth of the princess,” said city spokesman Kazuyuki Adachi.
The name flap began Wednesday when the popular Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden named a newborn macaque Charlotte, which was the favorite in a public ballot. Immediately after the decision was announced, the zoo was flooded with protests from some Japanese who said it was disrespectful to British royals.
Adachi said officials took seriously the views of both sides.
Oita Mayor Kiichiro Sato endorsed the decision, saying: “(The monkey) is given a wonderful and cute name, Charlotte. I think we should stick to Charlotte.”
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
