Meet Gizmo, Safari West's newest monkey

The people have spoken. It’s Gizmo.

That was the winning name in a crowdsourced election to find a moniker for Safari West’s newest little Patas monkey.

Gizmo edged out Johnny Depp - the second highest vote-getter among 10 finalists submitted by fans of Safari West.

Voting was fast and furious in the last few minutes before the voting closed at noon Monday. But Gizmo whizzed ahead by 1,000 votes at the finish.

Multiple votes were allowed in the clearly unscientific online ballot.

“Even though I know some folks at the last minute were putting in their favorites over and over, it’s all part of the game,” said Safari West spokeswoman Aphrodite Caserta. “The whole point is for people to have a name for an animal so the animal is not a stranger to them. Now, he’s not just a monkey. He’s Gizmo.”

Gizmo is a nonsensical word people sometimes use to describe a device they don’t remember the name for. Gizmo was also made famous as the mischievous, big-eared creature in the movie “Gremlins.”

Caserta said at least half a dozen people suggested the name Gizmo in emails to Safari West. All of them will be treated to a free tour of the African wild animal park near Santa Rosa.

You can reach Staff Writer Meg McConahey at meg.mcconahey@pressdemocrat.com or 521-5204.