In a shocking turn of events, capuchin monkeys in Panama have been observed carrying howler babies between 2022 and 2023, sparking scientific curiosity about the complexities of primate behavior.
A shocking discovery has been made by scientists studying the behavior of capuchin monkeys in Panama. The footage shows that these intelligent and social animals have been carrying ‘howler babies’ , which are a different species, between 2022 and 2023.
Capuchin monkeys are small, intelligent primates native to the tropical forests of Central and South America.
They belong to the Cebidae family and are known for their agility and adaptability.
Capuchins have a distinctive black cap on their heads, giving them their name.
They are omnivores, feeding on fruits, leaves, insects, and small animals.
In captivity, they are popular pets due to their intelligence and trainability.
Understanding the Complexity of Monkey Behavior
The researchers set up over 80 cameras to study capuchin tool use, but were surprised to see the first ‘howler babies’ appear in early 2022. The footage showed the capuchins walking and pounding their stone tools with baby ‘howler babies’ on their backs. However, the moments of abduction, which likely happened up in the trees where ‘howlers’ spend most of their time, remain a mystery.
Howler monkeys are native to the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Female howlers give birth to a single baby after a gestation period of approximately six months.
Newborn howler babies weigh around 200-300 grams and cling to their mothers' fur for warmth and protection.
Unfortunately, howler babies are often abducted by hunters or poachers, who sell them as exotic pets on the black market.
This practice not only endangers the species but also puts human lives at risk due to potential zoonotic diseases transmission.
The Impact on Infant Howler Monkeys
In most cases, the baby ‘howlers’ died, researchers said. Infant ‘howler monkeys’ would normally be carried by their mothers while still nursing. All the babies in the video ― from a few weeks to a few months in age ― were too young to be weaned. The videos recorded a few instances of young capuchin males still carrying ‘howler babies’ that had died, likely from starvation.
Howler monkeys, native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, are known for their distinctive vocalizations.
However, their infants face a critical issue - starvation due to inadequate nutrition from their mothers.
Studies have shown that howler baby mortality rates are high, often due to malnutrition.
In the wild, howler mothers may not produce enough milk to sustain their young, leading to severe malnutrition and increased risk of death.
A Glimpse into the Mind of the Monkey Kidnapper
The researchers are unsure why the capuchin males did it. There were no signs of deliberate aggression toward the babies and they weren’t eaten, ruling out predation. The first baby-snatcher may have had a confused ‘caring motivation,’ or parental instinct, because he showed gentleness interacting with the infants. Then four other males copied his actions.
A Remarkable Behavioral Variation
The research shows the ‘remarkable behavioral variation across social groups of the same species,’ said Catherine Crockford, a primatologist at the CNRS Institute for Cognitive Sciences in France, who was not involved in the study. This discovery highlights the complexity and diversity of animal behavior, challenging our understanding of what is considered normal or acceptable in the natural world.
