Unexpected Behavior of Capuchin Monkeys Observed
Researchers have uncovered puzzling evidence of what they term a “monkey temptation” while analyzing video from a small island in Panama. Between 2022 and 2023, Capuchin monkeys were documented carrying at least 11 baby Howler monkeys.
“This discovery was quite surprising,” remarked Zoe Goldsborough, a behavioral ecologist at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany. “We haven’t seen anything like this in the animal realm.”
The reasons behind this behavior are still being explored. Capuchin monkeys, which are roughly the size of house cats, are native to South and Central America. They are known for their intelligence and longevity, often learning new skills from one another. For instance, one group of these monkeys on the island was observed using stones as tools to crack open nuts and shellfish.
Goldsborough and her colleagues from both the Max Planck Institute and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute set up over 80 cameras to study the monkeys’ tool use. They were taken aback when the first baby Howler was seen in early 2022.
The footage captured a Capuchin walking while using a stone tool, with a baby Howler on its back. However, the cameras did not record the moment the baby was taken. Scientists believe this likely occurred in the trees, where Howler monkeys typically reside.
“Our perspective on this situation is quite limited,” noted Margaret Crofoot, a co-author from Max Planck and the Smithsonian. The research findings were published in the journal Current Biology.
In nearly all observed cases, the baby Howlers seemed to have died, the researchers pointed out. Young Howler monkeys are usually transported to their mothers during breastfeeding, and all the infants in the videos were just weeks to months old—far too young to be weaned.
“Part of me hopes that perhaps some were able to escape and return to their mothers, but we just don’t know,” Crofoot commented.
The videos highlighted several instances of young Capuchin monkeys carrying baby Howlers that likely succumbed to starvation. The motivations behind this behavior are murky, yet it’s known that many animals, including gorillas and orcas, have been seen carrying their deceased offspring.
So, what prompted the Capuchin actions? There were no indications of any aggressive behavior toward the baby, nor were they consumed, ruling out predation.
“We’ve all spent considerable time trying to wrap our minds around why they did this,” shared Goldsborough.
It’s possible that the initial baby carrier acted out of a confused sense of “compassion” or parental drive, as he exhibited gentleness while handling the infant. Interestingly, four other males followed suit, mimicking his behavior.
The researchers don’t believe the Capuchins intended to harm the baby. So far, this specific behavior has only been observed in one group of Capuchins.
Catherine Crocford, a primatologist at the CNRS Institute of Cognitive Sciences in France who wasn’t involved in the study, noted that the research reveals “notable behavioral variation among social groups of the same species.”
