MONKEYING AROUND IN COSTA RICA

MONKEYING AROUND IN COSTA RICA

Monkeys fascinate me and they were certainly one of the first factors when I chose a holiday in Costa Rica.

I was familiar with the country’s breathtaking scenery, including lush rainforests and rain forests, beautiful beaches, soothing hot springs, and breathtaking volcanoes, but I was also drawn to the country’s abundant wildlife, including many species of monkeys (Costa Rica is the home to four different species).

After all, I wanted to see these different monkeys in the wild, study these playful animals and, of course, photograph them.

HOWLER MONKEYS:

I woke up early in the morning to the distinct and eerie sounds of howler monkeys from my apartment in the Costa Rican jungle.

These weren’t what I was used to in the old Tarzan movies – the almost playful and pleasant sounds of the chimpanzees – these deep, echoing, guttural sounds were rather much more terrifying – perhaps to tell me I was an intruder on the ‘howl’ ‘possession’, and ghostly ‘howls’ warned or frightened me.

But the sound had a very different effect on me – because it clearly intrigued me – and instead of me leaving the area, I had to get out of bed quickly and actively look for the animals that were making these strange, unique noises. .

I was in Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, surrounded by a maze of jungle channels that wind through a densely forested lowland.

There are no roads in this remote part of the jungle (I had traveled by boat to get to my hut in the park), and now I grabbed my camera and actively searched for these howler monkeys (here, in the park, a of most municipalities where they are seen all over the country).

And I didn’t have to go far, as these rather ferocious-sounding creatures were right on the shack’s grounds. All I had to do was walk our sidewalks and look at the trees.

Of course, we were soon joined by many more curious human onlookers, and we all spent much of the early morning listening to the cries of these creatures and watching them play in the trees high above us.

And despite their raucous voices and somewhat gruff and intimidating appearance, the black howler monkeys seemed a bit shy around us and, for the most part, seemed to prefer staying high in the trees far away from us.

Biologists tend to think that the clear sounds of howler monkeys are just males marking the boundaries of their territory.

But these monkeys, probably both males and females, also had “other techniques” to protect their territory, because if one of us got too close or didn’t follow what was happening, we could suddenly be “bombed”. With urine or monkey feces.

Yes, the viewer had to be careful that one of these “villains” did not hit directly “over the head” – a “critical hit”. And it’s not the most pleasant way to start a new day – to let the monkey’s “artillery” hit the “head”.

This “bombing” actually happened to more than one of this assembled group of people, and it resulted in that person taking a cleansing shower very quickly (no one wants to walk around smelling like that for very long).

Spider monkeys:

These monkeys are also found in Tortuguero National Park, but are usually much harder to spot than the howler monkeys.

I didn’t see the lodge itself nearby, but as I left the park by boat and passed through the canals, I saw a group perched high in the treetops by the water.

I’ve actually seen them move hand in hand across the canopy, and they sure can move.

Their amazing moves reminded me of playground kids enjoying so-called “monkey bars”. (the name seemed much more appropriate after witnessing this event, but these monkeys were faster and more graceful).

Spider monkeys are brown or black in color and are larger and slimmer than howler monkeys (they don’t look as ferocious).

WHITE MONKEYS:

White-headed (or capuchin) monkeys are found in a variety of habitats, from the rainforests of Costa Rica in the central region to the lowland mangrove forests of the Osa Peninsula.

I found many when I arrived on the Pacific side of Costa Rica and especially in Manuel Antonio National Park.

This beautiful park is the most popular park in the country and is a great place to enjoy the amazing beaches (whether you want to swim, snorkel or just sunbathe) and see the frolicking of white-faced monkeys.

These mischievous creatures seem to be everywhere here – and they aren’t particularly shy or intimidated. If you want to take pictures of “nice monkeys” on your Costa Rica vacation, this is the place to go.

These medium-sized, agile monkeys use their tails exceptionally well – and I’ve seen many hung from tree branches by their long prehensile tails.

However, they don’t tend to ‘lay’ for long as they love to toss from place to place – and I’ve noticed they then play, from branch to branch and from tree to ground.

It was almost like a frantic game of touch pads, with the monkeys chasing and playing around each other, with little regard for the people nearby who were staring at them.

Many people appreciate the stunning beauty of the beach itself, but I can’t get enough of watching these monkeys.

It was amazing to see them in action. I saw the monkey look at the basket that the woman had placed on the floor where the shore and the forest meet – and then this cheeky little beast jumped to the ground, took an apple from the basket and quickly retreated. For the safety of tree branches.

Then I saw how this little “thief” cheekily ate that apple. Later I also saw another monkey eating a piece of watermelon.

These wild monkeys are meant to survive on their own, not to be “served” their meals on a platter by tourists.

That is why signs were erected in the park: “Do not feed the monkeys” (and people were fined and asked to leave the park for breaking this rule).

These monkeys should be left to feed and fend for themselves, and there is a real concern that they will become too “civilized” and lose their fear of humans, as has happened with some black bears in some North American parks.).

It was amazing to see them in action. I saw the monkey look at the basket that the woman had placed on the floor where the shore and the forest meet – and then this cheeky little beast jumped to the ground, took an apple from the basket and quickly retreated. For the safety of tree branches.

Then I saw how this little “thief” cheekily ate that apple. Later I also saw another monkey eating a piece of watermelon.

These wild monkeys are meant to survive on their own, not to be “served” their meals on a platter by tourists.

That is why signs were erected in the park: “Do not feed the monkeys” (and people were fined and asked to leave the park for breaking this rule).