German zoo renames baboon called Obama after racist claims

London, July 11 - ANI: A zoo in Germany has reportedly renamed a baby baboon from Obama to Okeke, after being accused of racism.

The Dresden Zoo was said to have named the baby mandrill after the US President, while being caught up in Obama-mania.

According to a report in The Local, a black advocacy group slammed the move, accusing the zoo of racial insensitivity, and demanded that the animal be renamed, reports The Telegraph.

Manuela Collmar, keeper at the zoo's Afrika Haus, said that names of all newborn were marked with the same letter each year, and the mandrills case was no exception.

She defended the name saying that Obama was "meant to be positive and an honour in light of his visit to Dresden in June."

Director Karl-Heinz Ukena also denied racist claims, and apologised for any harm caused.

The primate will now be called Okeke, which Ukena says means "he who was born on market day". - ANI

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