Capuchin Monkeys are Kidnappers
By RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (86059)
Daytona Beach, Florida
May 20, 2025 2:42pm CST
One capuchin male monkey has been named Joker and he along with four subadult and juvenile male monkeys have abducted at least 11 infant howler monkeys between January 2022 and March 2023. Researchers have put down this behavior as a kind of "cultural fad".
However, no one knows why these monkey are doing this on the island of Jicaron. The howler population on Jicarón is an endangered subspecies of mantled howler monkeys. Additionally, howler monkey moms give birth only once every two years, on average.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/19/science/monkey-kidnappings-jicaron-island-panama?utm
13 people like this
9 responses
@RasmaSandra (86059)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 May
@AmbiePam I hope they treat those babies like their own, I could not find an answer online about what they do with those they kidnap,
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (99310)
• United States
20 May
@RasmaSandra Well, the article doesn’t seem to think they hurt them, so that’s something I guess.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86059)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 May
@AmbiePam just sad thinking about the Mamas without their babies. Sure wish if those monkeys get tired of them they bring them back where they found them,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86059)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 May
@snowy22315 I feel sad for the monkey moms.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (227467)
• Chile
21 May
Even if they treat them well, they would teach them differently. Poor babies and poor mothers.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (227467)
• Chile
21 May
@RasmaSandra And who knows what happens to the babies.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86059)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 May
@marguicha I hope a solution can be found I do feel for the babies and mothers being separated,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86059)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 May
@rakski that is the biggest problem that humans and animals don't have a better means of communication
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36583)
•
29 May
That is strange. They don't seem to be harming the babies. I've read they are highly intelligent. Could they be looking to crossbred in the future to increase their population? This would be not good for the howler monkeys.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86059)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 May
@dgobucks226 maybe scientists can figure this one out one day
1 person likes this
@Melanie_Marie (2165)
• St. Clair, Michigan
22 May
That’s strange. Almost like gang-related activity
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86059)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 May
@Melanie_Marie hopefully the infant monkeys are all right,
@RasmaSandra (86059)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 May
@wolfgirl569 makes me want to know why the Capuchin monkeys don't reproduce to have their own babies,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86059)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 May
@thelme55 the only good thing I can say about these monkeys is that they probably treat the infants well which is more than I can say about humans who have kidnapped children as you well know,
1 person likes this
