Two young Kikuyu colobus monkeys livened up the monkey exhibits in 1950 when they arrived as companions for the Zoo's one male, Old John, who was 12 years old. They moved in next door to him, but he showed little interest in their fast and noisy lifestyle. As they "deported themselves like a couple of clowns," rolling, chasing, leaping, and making themselves heard with "powerful, ratchety voices resounding through the canyons," Old John remained up high in his exhibit, looking down at them coolly, his expression inscrutable. The keepers decided that perhaps in this case, proximity was enough.