Monkeys are members of the order Primates. There are more than 4,000 species worldwide, with most of them living in tropical rainforests.
The most common species are baboons and macaques, but there are many others as well. Most monkeys are arboreal, meaning they climb trees. They are highly social animals, living in large groups that rely on vocalizations and facial expressions to communicate with one another.
They can make a wide range of sounds, from barks and screams to grunts, squeaks, and hoots. Loud vocalizations help them communicate with other monkeys and indicate their mood.
Most monkeys live in troop-like groups of several hundred individuals, primarily females. They travel about in search of food, usually with a male alpha who is in charge of the group.
Females give birth to infants about once a year, usually in groups with other mothers and their babies. They nurse their infants for a period of time until they become independent.
These primates are used in medical and scientific research, but there have been vigorous campaigns against their use by antivivisection groups. They are bred and used in laboratories or captive facilities and are sometimes abused or killed during experiments.
Some wild monkeys are reintroduced into the wild, but most are kept in laboratory facilities or held as pets. This is not a sustainable solution because monkeys are highly social and need constant attention and commitment. This is especially true of monkeys used for entertainment, which are subjected to unnatural training techniques and cruel treatment in the zoo, circus, and film industry.