Monkeys can be a lot of fun to watch, especially in the wild or at the zoo. But monkeys can also be difficult and expensive to keep as pets, particularly if they are not bred for the purpose. In most states, it is illegal to own a monkey or any other kind of primate unless you have a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as a large enclosure. Many primate lovers end up turning to sanctuaries for help, but those are hard to find and have limited space.
Monkeys are social creatures that live in large groups, called troops, and travel daily to look for food. They usually don’t stay in a single place for long and spread seeds as they move, which helps the natural environment to continue to flourish. They also groom one another as a way to show affection and make peace with each other.
In captivity, monkeys are often trained to open and close drawers, turn lights on and off and even dial the phone. They are extremely intelligent and can learn a great deal.
Some researchers have used LiDAR technology to map the forest canopy where monkeys travel from one fruiting tree to the next. These studies have shown that monkeys are smart enough to create mental maps of the trees they move through, and they can use body language to communicate with each other. For example, a monkey displaying its teeth in a smile may look similar to the way children smile on the monkey bars, but this gesture can actually indicate aggression or fear, Live Science reports.
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