The word monkey is often used to describe apes, such as chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, and is sometimes used informally to refer to all types of primates. Despite this confusion, most scientists agree that monkeys are highly intelligent animals that can learn complex skills and behaviors. Monkeys can be found worldwide, and many species are endangered due to habitat loss or fragmentation, live capture for the global pet trade and hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine.
Wild monkeys are omnivores and eat a variety of fruits, nuts, leaves, flowers, bark, roots, seeds, insects, and small mammals. They also eat whatever else is available in their environments. Fruits and vegetables usually make up a large portion of a monkey’s diet, but protein is necessary, too. Monkeys will eat anything that can provide them with a source of protein, even if it is not easy to digest.
Most monkeys are tree-dwelling (arboreal) and some are diurnal, eating during the day, while others are nocturnal, and eat at night. A lot of the monkeys we see in zoos, however, are unhealthy, due to being fed sugary processed food and not getting enough exercise. This type of monkey is called an urban monkey, and it can suffer from obesity, low muscle mass, high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. It is also likely that these monkeys will have less muscle than their natural counterparts and are more likely to attack when provoked. Monkeys in the wild spend the majority of their time searching for and consuming food. They have to be smart and flexible to get the most out of nature’s buffet.