Facts About Monkeys

Monkeys are intelligent animals that often work together in groups. Most monkeys communicate with each other through facial expressions, body movements and various sounds that can sound like barks, purrs, screams, peeps and even deep howls that can be heard for miles. Some monkeys form strong friendships with other members of the group and support each other during conflicts with other animals. Monkeys spend a great deal of time in trees during the day and at night they are often found sleeping close to each other.

Monkeys eat a variety of things, but are generally omnivorous and will eat most fruits, nuts, leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, rodents, birds and invertebrates. They also have complex stomachs that allow them to digest toxic plants. Some species have specialized diets, such as proboscis monkeys that eat only fruit when it is ripe or red-shouldered colobus monkeys that eat only leaves.

Most monkeys are not good candidates for pets as they are noisy, messy and require a lot of care. Infant monkeys are raised by their mothers or grandmothers and some patient older monkeys will be identified as foster mothers for infant monkeys that are too young to be left on their own. The TNPRC also maintains a nursery for young monkeys that are being raised in captivity.

Most monkeys are at risk of becoming extinct due to people cutting down their natural habitat, hunting them for meat or for the pet trade and because they are often found near human settlements where they are perceived as pests. Tough laws need to be put in place to protect monkeys and their wild habitat.