World Monkey Day

Are monkeys endangered?

More than half of the world’s primates — including monkeys, apes, and lemurs — face extinction. Here are some of the threats that are endangering monkey populations.

Habitat loss and destruction

Monkey habitats are being destroyed to make space for agriculture, logging, and infrastructure. This means monkeys have less space in which to live, find food, and find a mate.

Illegal pet trade

Monkeys are being taken from the wild for the illegal pet trade and for entertainment purposes. They are used to create social media content or to perform as part of dancing monkey troupes.

Hunting

In some parts of the world, monkeys are hunted as food. Their body parts are also used in traditional medicine.

Monkey FAQS

How many bananas can a monkey eat in a day?

Monkeys don’t actually eat bananas in the wild unless they’re close to human habitat. Monkeys eating bananas is a myth propagated by zoos and social media. You may see monkeys eating bananas on TikTok videos but, behind these videos, there is often a story of animal exploitation.

What do monkeys do all day?

Monkeys spend time grooming each other to strengthen troop bonds. They use tools, like small stones, to access food sources and engage in play, chasing one another and play-fighting.

Can monkeys eat meat?

Monkeys can eat meat but most primates rarely do. Meat eating is most common in capuchins, baboons, bonobos, and chimpanzees.

Can monkeys speak?

Monkeys can’t speak but they do communicate through facial expressions and vocalisations.

Mother and baby monkeys grow their bond through exaggerated facial expressions and long mutual gazes, like in a human child-parent relationship.

Monkeys also make a variety of sounds, like screams, howls, and calls. Baby monkeys who have experienced trauma show long-term effects in how they vocalise their emotions, producing noisy screams.

Can monkeys cry?

Monkeys don’t cry in the same way as humans do. They don’t produce tears but they can communicate their distress. When stressed, some monkeys will scratch themselves and when sad, they can produce vocalisations that include whimpers, coos, and screams.