5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed is a favorite children’s story. It’s a counting story and a nursery rhyme that is fun to read or sing. Add in Curious George and we instill into children how fun monkeys are at a very early age.
Well known for their interactive activities, monkeys have again proven that they are one of the most intelligent species in the animal kingdom. The East African vervet monkeys have been observed cracking nuts using a stone as an anvil and a pebble for a hammer!
The Diana monkey uses tools to crack open hard palm-shelled fruits like coconuts which is naturally not part of its diet. These behaviors were first observed by Jane Goodall in the 1960s.
The Great Ape Project, an organization that promotes the moral equality of all great apes, including humans, states: “There is no fundamental difference between gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos orangutans, and humans.” Other scientists such as Richard Wrangham have stated the same thing.
This statement has lead to questions about whether monkeys are really monkeys or apes? In terms of taxonomy, a monkey is an Old World primate that belongs to the same superfamily as humans and great apes. Monkeys are typically small animals with tails. They belong to the order Primates, which include lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers
Let’s Look At Some Monkey Facts:
- A monkey is an Old World primate.
- Monkeys live in Africa, Asia, and tropical America. Some species live up to 30 years in the wild, although many do not reach adulthood.
- There are two hundred different types of monkeys on earth. The smallest monkey is the marmoset that weighs less than a can of coke (140 grams) and the largest monkey is the howler that weighs up to 35 kilograms.
- There are three subspecies of Baboons. The yellow baboon found in the savannahs has a black face, while the olive and hamadryas baboons both have pale faces.
- A species called gelada is a blue monkey that lives on mountain plateaus in Ethiopia. They live in large groups that can measure up to four hundred monkeys!
What Do Monkeys Eat?
In the wild, you would find monkeys eating fruits, nuts, and leaves. They have a very varied diet which depends on where they live.
They have adapted well to city life and can be seen eating garbage. Isn’t that sad?
Some types of monkeys are herbivores like gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, baboons, etc. who eat mainly fruits and vegetables.
How Intelligent Are Monkeys?
Some scientists believe that monkeys are more intelligent than apes.
In a study, researchers showed that rhesus monkeys can learn an abstract concept – the number zero! This was something even our closest relatives, chimpanzees, and bonobos, couldn’t do.
Man’s New Best Friend?
In the wild, monkeys are very social animals. They live in groups of about fifteen to fifty individuals, although some species like baboons can have hundreds of members. A monkey’s group is called a troop or band but this can change frequently if the troop is hungry because they have to move in search of food.
Monkeys show great intelligence in group decision-making. Younger monkeys are trained in the skills needed for survival, like how to protect themselves from predators and how to get food through mimicry. The older members take care of the younger ones.
Monkeys have been known to help humans in times of need. In 2001, a troop of fifteen squirrel monkeys helped fishermen retrieve their nets from the sea. The Monkeys grabbed hold of the rope and helped pull it ashore as if they were helping out a human friend!
Many people have pet monkeys these days but is there such thing as having too many pets?
Getting A Monkey For Your Birthday Isn’t As Easy As You Think!
It is illegal in some countries to own a pet monkey. In the US, the import of all primates for commercial purposes was outlawed by Congress in 2000.
Monkeys make great pets but it takes a lot of time and effort to train them. Before you decide to get a monkey, consider the following questions : Do you have time and energy to train it? Would you be able to devote all your time and attention to its training? Because if not, then it would end up being very lonely.
Let’s make a pet monkey your parents will approve of!
Supplies Needed:
- Brown paper bag
- Quick-dry tacky glue or school glue
- My Monkey Template File
- Print the template file of your choosing.
- To use a print and cut device (such as Cricut Explore), use the PNG images. Upload to your machine software and cut according to manufacturer’s instructions. Resize the pieces as follows:
Face and ears = 3.5 inches in height
White eyes = 3.5 inches in width
Black eyes and nostrils = 2.5 inches in width
- If not using the print and cut option, print the PDF and cut pieces apart.
- Allow children to create the puppet by gluing the pieces to the paper bag.
- Allow the craft to dry completely before playing or displaying.
Let’s look at some more monkey fun!
I know monkeys don’t read, but you can always keep your place when you are with this cute monkey bookmark! Want to make a friend for your paper bag puppet? Try this Paper Plate Monkey! Even this toilet paper tube monkey is a cool project!
Sock Monkeys are great fun and you can whip one up together with your parent with the help of this sewing pattern! In fact, monkeys really inspire a lot of crafts like these Monkey Fist Balls!
Darn it – all this monkeys talk is making me hungry for my mom’s banana oatmeal cookies, LOL! You could make those too – here is the recipe: The Best Banana Oatmeal Cookies You Could Ever Eat!
Other fun crafts we have done:
- The Best Goonies Unit Study and Pirate Gold Craft!
- 21 Upcycled Craft Ideas for Older Kids
- Dollar Store Craft Stick Fall Bucket List
- Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids
- Nim’s Island Study Unit and Island in a Jar Craft Idea
- Indian in the Cupboard Study Unit and Cupboard Craft for Kids
- Harry Potter Study Unit and Hedwig Owl Craft for Kids
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