Whether they’re living in the wild or in captivity, monkeys require a lot of space to be happy. Plus, they are curious creatures who will find ways to get into anything — cords, leashes, windows and more.
Monkeys are extremely social animals, so they usually live together in groups called troops. Typically, a single male leads a troop, but other males may challenge him for the position.
In many cases, the females of a troop are in charge of mating and feeding. Then, the males are in charge of running the troop’s daily activities.
These monkeys have very unique social structures, which are based on how they share food and water. When a new group of monkeys comes into a troop, for example, they are introduced to a variety of foods.
They often choose to eat these different foods because they want to be part of their new tribe. Those who eat new foods also tend to be more innovative than their peers who stick with what’s been served before, according to a study.
Baby monkeys learn to laugh and vocalize within two days of birth, and they are often capable of complex thinking abilities at a young age. They are very active and spend a lot of their waking hours playing, which helps them develop physical and mental skills they’ll need in adulthood.