While movies give us the false impression that monkeys are all fun and games, owning one of these animals comes with a lot of responsibilities. Monkeys are wild animals and need to be kept in a natural environment with a well-balanced diet. This can be a challenge for those who own monkeys because many pet monkeys end up with diabetes due to poor diets. In the wild, monkeys are omnivores, eating nuts, fruits, vegetables, leaves, bark, roots, and insects. Many species, such as chimpanzees and New World monkeys, have diets that are tilted heavily toward plants while others, such as gorillas and Old World monkeys, eat more meat, invertebrates, and fruits.
The main staple of a monkey’s diet is fruit, which provides important energy and vitamins. Depending on the species, some monkeys can eat up to ten pounds of fruit per day. Long tails, such as the one on a spider monkey, allow some species to reach the top of trees to get to their favorite fruits.
Monkeys are very social and use vocalizations to communicate with each other. They also use facial expressions and body posture to convey emotions. For example, a monkey will look down or away when staring at another monkey as a way to avoid fighting. In the wild, monkeys will often smell or taste a plant before eating it to make sure that it is safe.
Many people enjoy growing a Monkey Plant because it is an easy-to-care for plant with attractive foliage and small flowers. For some people, caring for a Monkey Plant is a way to connect with nature and help reduce stress. It can also be a great way to teach children the importance of caring for living things.