The majority of New World monkeys suffer from severe loss of habitat due to human and agricultural expansion making them vulnerable too r already in danger of extinction. Four species of monkey exist in Costa Rica: The howler monkey, spider monkey, white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkey.
A veterinarian’s Wild Experiences
White-faced Capuchin
Last week, an electrocuted howler monkey from Playas del Coco was brought to my consulting room. A foreign tourist had found the animal injured and weakened with burns on his hands. He had maimed himself. There was nothing more I could do but to amputate all his fingers in order to try and save him, but howlers become easily depressed. This one would not have been able to feed himself and, sooner or later, he would have died. I put him down with tears in my eyes, but certain that it would be the best for him.
Howlers are frequently spotted in trees bordering roads and rivers, as well as in wooded areas within human populations.
This is principally due to their search for food extending into habitats that have been diminished by urban development in coastal areas.
With each passing day, the uncontrolled and indiscriminate chopping ot trees is shrinking the natural biological corridors that the howlers must move through. In order to pass from one wooded area to another they are forced to come down to the ground in order to cross open spaces, or use electricity cables.
These alterations to their behavior expose them threats such as being run over on roads and electrocution.
Monkeys of Guanacaste
Howler Monkey
Weight: 4-7Kg (9-15lbs)
Life expectancy: 25 years
Troop size: 5-20 individuals
Diet: Leaves, flowers, fruits.
Characteristics:
Found in humid and dry primary and secondary forest. They live on the fringes or rivers and are diurnal and arboreal. Their vocalizations can be heard up to 1 Km away. They currently suffer the most problems in Guanacaste, principally during the dry season where in their ranging search for food they can suffer from electric shocks, vehicular accidents, and attacks from domestical animals.
Spider Monkey
Weight: 5-9 Kg (11-20lbs)
Life expectancy: 25 years
Troop size: 2-35 individuals
Diet: Fruits-based
Characteristics:
Diurnal and arboreal. Their most notable characteristic is their absence of thumbs. In Costa Rica there are two subspecies Ateles groffroyi ornatos is found in the northern parts of coloration to its si fur. The other subspecie, Ateles geoffroyi panamensis, is found distributed from Pacifico de Carara to Corcovado and its fue is more reddish in color.
White-faced Capuchin
Weight:2.5-3.5Kg (5.5-8lbs)
Life expectancy: 25 years
Troop size:11-15 individuals
Diet: Fruit and Insects
Characteristics:
Widely distributed throughout the region from Honduras to Ecuador, principally inhabiting primary and secondary forest and slopes.
