New boss monkey takes helm at Oita zoo

New boss monkey takes helm at Oita zoo

OITA, Japan - A monkey mascot (R) at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita, southwestern Japan, accepts a warrant of appointment from Oita Mayor Ban Kugimiya on Feb. 2, 2014, at a ceremony marking the promotion of the garden's No. 2 leader monkey "Zorome" as new boss monkey. Zorome's predecessor "Bentsu" was declared dead in mid-January after going missing the month before.

New boss monkey takes helm at Oita zoo

New boss monkey takes helm at Oita zoo

OITA, Japan - Male monkey "Zorome" becomes the new boss monkey at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita, southwestern Japan, on Feb. 2, 2014. His predecessor "Bentsu" was declared dead in mid-January after going missing the month before.

Legendary boss monkey remembered at Japan zoo

Legendary boss monkey remembered at Japan zoo

OITA, Japan - A zookeeper at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita, southwestern Japan, reminiscences fondly over "Bentsu," the zoo's legendary boss monkey as shown in the portrait and statue in the photo taken on Jan. 17, 2015, the first anniversary since the leader monkey was declared dead the previous year after going missing.

Legendary boss monkey remembered at Japan zoo

Legendary boss monkey remembered at Japan zoo

OITA, Japan - A visitor lays flowers for the legendary boss monkey "Bentsu" at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 17, 2015, the first anniversary since the leader monkey was declared dead the previous year after going missing.

Monkey 'Bentsu' was Oita park's major attraction

Monkey 'Bentsu' was Oita park's major attraction

OITA, Japan - Photo taken in late October 2013 shows then alpha male monkey "Bentsu" at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in southwestern Japan. The monkey, which was declared dead in January after his disappearance, apparently helped the zoo attract more than 300,000 visitors in fiscal 2013 for the first time in six years.

Flowers offered to boss monkey in Oita

Flowers offered to boss monkey in Oita

OITA, Japan - A table is set up at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita on Jan. 26, 2014, for visitors who wish to offer flowers to the garden's boss monkey ''Bentsu'' who died in mid-January after escaping.

800 gather at memorial service for boss monkey in Oita

800 gather at memorial service for boss monkey in Oita

OITA, Japan - Some 800 visitors gather at an event to commemorate the death of ''Bentsu,'' the boss monkey in the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita on Jan. 26, 2014.

Legendary boss monkey remembered at Japan zoo

Legendary boss monkey remembered at Japan zoo

OITA, Japan - A visitor lays flowers for the legendary boss monkey "Bentsu" at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 17, 2015, the first anniversary since the leader monkey was declared dead the previous year after going missing. (Kyodo)