Monkeys are a popular animal at many zoos and conservation locations. They are very interesting and playful animals but they can also get into a lot of mischief both in captivity and in their natural environment. These primates share a lot of similarities with humans in how they interact within their groups. They show love, anger and even mourn the loss of loved ones just like humans do.
They have long tails that help them to balance when climbing and are also used for carrying objects such as food or their babies. They can even learn to use tools. Some species of monkeys are able to make cups from leaves to drink from rivers and streams and some have been known to even carry water around in their mouths using their tongues as straws!
Most monkeys are frugivores but some, such as baboons, also eat insects and small mammals. They can not produce their own vitamin C so they need to eat it from fruits and other sources.
Their prehensile tails come in handy as they travel around their environments picking up fruits, flowers, nuts, seeds, insects and even lizards from the ground! They can also climb very high in trees to reach hard-to-reach spots.
Monkeys can also be very vocal and howl to communicate with other troops. This is a way to let other groups know where they are without having to spend energy patrolling their territories or fighting with the other troops. They can even howl to signal when their young are born!