Monkeys are adorable, and many of us have seen them at zoos or in movies or TV. We may have even dreamed about having one for a pet. But the truth is, monkeys are wild animals that require full commitment from a human throughout their entire lives. It is simply not possible for most people to meet all of their needs, even those of a small monkey.
Monkey feeding habits vary depending on the species, but most are frugivores. Their diets include a variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, leaves, bark, vegetables, insects, reptiles, and rodents. They can also eat the shells of seafood and some vertebrates. Monkeys are highly adaptable when it comes to their food, and in the case of new foods, they often use social learning to figure out how to get at them.
In the wild, monkeys usually travel in troops consisting of several females with young and either a single male (in the case of hamadryas baboons, mandrills, guenons, and most cougars) or multiple males (in the case of marmosets, pygmy martens, and some langurs). Males protect their troop’s territory from other males and females and take care of the babies. Females usually carry and nurse the young.
Monkeys are very curious creatures, and they will explore everything around them. This can cause damage to your home and their enclosure, as well as injury or death to the animal. They also eat things that are bad for them, and they do not digest foods like bread or yogurt properly. In addition, their digestive systems cannot handle spices such as chili peppers.