In the Coiba National Park, located on Jicarón Island, Panama, a discovery has surprised the scientific community: capuchin monkeys stealing howler monkey infants.
The finding, published in Current Biology, was made by researcher Zoë Goldsborough, who captured on camera traps the image of a capuchin carrying a baby of another species on its back.
What is most unusual is that these cases usually occur among females, but the evidence showed that the males were behind this behavior.
The influence of boredom on capuchin monkeys
After reviewing months of recordings, Goldsborough identified that one male, nicknamed Joker, had carried at least four howler monkey infants at different times.
Later on, four other male capuchins replicated the behavior, adding 11 new infants to the phenomenon.
Experts believe that, due to the absence of predators on the island, the ease of obtaining food, and the development of rudimentary tools, the capuchins sought distraction, adopting a kind of “pet”.
A trend that could affect the ecosystem
Despite scientific curiosity, the phenomenon has tragic consequences for the howler monkey population.
- The infants die in less than 9 days, as they do not have access to lactating females.
- The suffering of the infants and their parents could alter the balance of the island.
- If the trend persists, the howler monkey population could decrease drastically.
A passing trend or a new behavioral pattern?
Researchers still do not know if the infant snatching continues, but they warn that, as with other trends in the animal kingdom—like orcas wearing salmon hats or chimpanzees with blades of grass in their ears—its evolution is unpredictable.
It could disappear, resurface years later, or become a more common practice.
“This finding reminds us that animal behavior can be more complex than we imagine”—conclude the experts.
Cover photo: Brendan Barrett / Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior
