Facts About Monkeys

Monkeys are interesting and beautiful creatures that seem to ooze a sense of wonder and playfulness. They have a lot to offer, but they are also incredibly demanding animals that require full commitment and care throughout their entire lives.

Like people, monkeys are social animals. They love to be around other monkeys and they will quickly become distressed and frustrated if isolated from their group. They need to be kept in a large, secure enclosure with a variety of toys and exercise equipment and lots of attention. This is why many keepers use positive reinforcement training to teach their monkeys to perform a wide range of tasks, such as feeding themselves, bathing, and using the toilet.

In the wild, monkeys’ diets vary according to species and habitat. Most eat fruit, seeds, nuts, leaves, flowers and insects, but some may also eat small mammals or birds’ eggs. Some species have chambered stomachs that allow them to ferment and digest leaves.

Some monkeys also consume water in the form of waterfalls, rivers and streams. However, most get all the water they need from the fruits and leaves they eat. If they have to, some monkeys can lick water off the ground or they can take large leaves and fold them into cups that they drink out of.

In addition, monkeys are very intelligent animals. They can learn very quickly and can even imitate human behaviours with the help of their mirror neurons. For example, when a monkey sees his mother put food in her mouth, this triggers an urge in him to grab a piece of food and put it in his own mouth. When he does this, his brain releases dopamine, which makes him feel good and motivates him to repeat the behaviour.