Tag archives for Primates
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Sepilok Forest is a protected area of wild jungle along the Kinabatangan River in Malaysian Borneo. Each year only 300 people are allowed access to a restricted study site deep within the forest. This reserve – situated in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary – is utilized by Red Ape Encounters, HUTAN and other research…
Deep in the tropical jungle wilderness of Gabon, red capped mangabeys swing through the trees and roam across the forest floor. This primate species is only found in a small area of central Africa, and very little is known about them. The red capped mangabey has unique markings, including a dark face, tufts of red…
© Nat Geo Wild It’s possible that 100,000 endangered western lowland gorillas live in the lush, dense forests of the Congo Basin. But because of the thick rainforest habitat, it’s difficult for scientists to estimate how many of these animals are left in the wild. And since illegal hunting, logging and outbreaks of disease threaten…
Among the forested islands and wildlife-rich floodplains of Botswana lies the highest concentration of baboons in Africa. Get an inside look into the heart of baboon society.Swamp of the Baboons premieres Thursday December 16 at 8P et/pt on Nat Geo Wild. Meet some of the baboons… Boro: The Alpha When we join the swamp troop, Boro is…
Researchers are learning that chimps, like humans, display cultural differences. Watch a video preview of tonight’s episode of Africa’s Great Rift: Chimps Among the Lakes airing at 9P et/pt.
From house burglaries to lorry truck looting, monkey crimes have escalated on the streets of Jaipur. But with new monkey catcher recruits on the loose, these pesky primates must make a quick escape. The city troop of rogue monkeys are smart – they’ve memorized catcher Dhanna Lal’s face and flee at the sound of his truck.…
An aerial photo of an orangutan nest. Orangutans spend much of their lives in the trees. At a very young age, they learn to construct nests from their mothers. When orangutans mature, they are a solitary species, moving through the forest and building nests in trees. This past August, while on an ecotour in Borneo, I had the opportunity…
Out of all primates, proboscis monkeys could win the title of most odd-looking. With their pendulous noses, enormous bellies and seemingly velvet suit, this species is full of physical oddities. Photo Credit: Ged Caddick Proboscis monkeys’ stomachs are chambered into multiple sections, similar to a cow. Their bellies aren’t oversized because of overeating – they’re actually full of…
As orangutans and humans are 96.4% the same genetically and share 28 distinct physical characteristics, it’s no wonder this magnificent creature’s name means person of the forest in Malay. One controversial study even concluded that orangutans – not chimpanzees – are our closest relatives. Some telltale signs of our red ape relatives? Densely enameled molar teeth with level surfaces…
All monkeys might be primates, but they’re divided into two categories – Old World and New World – depending upon several characteristics. And one factor that helps identify these groups is the tail, and whether this limb is for grasping or balancing while aloft. Although not all New World species have a prehensile tail, spider monkeys have a…
Long-tailed macaques are an old world monkey species that spends most of the day eating, napping, traveling and socializing. They can balance from great heights with their long tails and even jump sixteen feet to reach another tree branch. At nighttime, long-tailed macaques huddle against one another for warmth. And if pursued by a predator –…
Wild orangutans living along the Kinabatangan River in Borneo now have a little help with exploring their broken forest: man-made bridges. “We’re trying to solve the problem of fragmented forest by finding solutions,” says Dr. Marc Ancrenaz, a Sabah, Malaysia-based wildlife biologist and the Director of HUTAN. “We are identifying bottlenecks… There are no natural bridges…
Going into their third week, Julie and Guy are approached by the monkeys, who are curious about their new neighbors in the canopy. Climbing experts help Julie set up a platform to observe the mangabeys’ sleeping zone and closely interact with them. Meanwhile, Guy teams up with an elephant expert to learn more about the…
Rani’s former enemy saves the day and has plans to recapture the ultimate monkey residence for the Galta gang — the Galta Temple. New episodes of Rebel Monkeys airs on Nat Geo Wild Wednesdays starting at 8P et/pt. Video Preview: Rani and Zmir finally attempt a violent recovery of their temple turf, but their success…
In Jaipur, things go from bad to worse for Rani and her rhesus macaque troop. Her alpha male has been captured by monkey catchers; her baby son Teejay is missing; and she’s lost her beloved temple home to the langur monkeys. To make matters worse, Rani has no idea her old enemy Zamir is back…
Julie Anderson and wilderness expert Guy Grieve trek into the African jungle to study the elusive red-capped mangabey monkey. They get settled into the treetop shelter where they will live for six weeks to be closer to the monkeys and safe from predators at night. As Guy works to make their new home livable, hunting…
As the expedition starts to wind down, the team continues to observe the monkey group at their feeding zone. Julie enlists the help of the climbing team to rig ropes for her to climb into the upper branches of a tree almost as tall as a 20-story building, where she can study each distinct call…
After being exiled from the luxurious Galta temple, it seemed that Zamir was destined to a life of hunger. But by joining up with a troop of rural renegades, Zamir is slowly adapting to his new environment. Not along ago, Zamir was feasting on nuts, sweets and fruit. But now, sitting alongside a highway in…
Bipin and the Galta gang splinter group wake in an abandoned temple on the edge of Jaipur. There’s nothing to eat or drink, and last night they heard terrifying sounding creatures prowling the fields nearby. Troop leader Devdan faces the biggest decision of his life. Should he lead his gang back to Jaipur, or risk…
Gorilla Murders airs on Nat Geo Wild Thursday July 1 at 10P et/pt. In July 2007 a haunting photo makes it out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A family of 4 rare mountain gorillas is shot to death at point blank range. The world is shocked. Why would anyone kill these charismatic and…
The central fruit market is completely out of reach for the Splinter group of teenage monkeys, as city macaque heavyweight Fang defends his territory more fiercely than ever. Desperate for a meal, the group invades a suburban school playground and raids kids’ packed lunches. And, still in search of a new place to settle, the…
National Geographic Emerging Explorer and primatologist Mireya Mayor ventures deep into the heart of the forest to observe the culture and behavior of these mysterious great apes. Though much of their behavior is still being studied, here are some facts that we do know about gorillas. Wild gorillas have barrel chests, protruding stomachs, black skin…
Stories of elusive monkeys – such as Tampa’s fugitive primate – exist around the globe. But when wild rhesus macaques become greedy urban troublemakers, how do you set a monkey trap? A troop of rowdy rhesus macaque monkeys have taken over Jaipur’s Galta temple, living in comfort within its walls. Other nearby rhesus gangs fight…
At a Jaipur temple, a group of langurs invade macaque territory — and it’s all out war. New episodes of Rebel Monkeys premiere Wednesday May 12 starting at 8P et/pt.
Is it for love, pleasure, or competition? Mireya Mayor observes the mating practices of the Western Lowland Gorilla. Mystery Gorillas airs Thursday at 10P et/pt on Nat Geo Wild.
