Belize Zoo Live: A Spotlight on the Spider Monkeys’ Adaptation
So, as you heard, the Belize Zoo is launching its live experience for educational institutions and today we got a first-hand experience. During our visit we did a sampling of the lessons of four different animals’ adaptation. In the following story we share a lesson on the how the spider monkeys use different behaviours and physical features to help them survive and adapt to the environment they are in. In the following story, reporter Andrea Polanco joins Education Director Jamal Andrewin Bohn to learn about the outstanding adaptations of this primate. Here’s the story.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The Spider Monkey is a favourite for the Belize Zoo visitors – but did you know that the physical characteristics that these monkeys use to entertain you are there to help them to survive in their environment? In the wild they would spend most of their time in the trees but in a management pen like here at the Belize Zoo they also sit and scamper around on the ground frequently. Today, Education Director Jamal Andrewin Bohn of the Belize Zoo will teach us about special behavioral and physical characteristics that play a critical role in the survival of this primate.
Jamal Andrewin Bohn
Jamal Andrewin Bohn, Education Director, The Belize Zoo
“This is another well-adapted and specialized mammal that we have in Belize. Their specialty is thriving in the canopies of our forest. So, it is very unusual to see the spider monkeys on the ground – they are like this because we are in a zoo and they are in a closed exhibit where they know there is no predator on the ground waiting for them. So, this is typically behaviour you wouldn’t see in the wild. They are much more capable and it is easier for them to escape any kind of threat up in the trees.”
A spider monkey’s tail and long limbs are two of the physical features that help them to adapt.
Jamal Andrewin Bohn
“They have a lack of thumb for example, so unlike us they only have four fingers. So that is what helps with their brachiation which is their mobility in the trees when they are moving through. So, thumbs don’t get in the way and they are able to swing from tree to tree easily. I know that people know they are famous for their tail which they like to call a fifth limb. Much like a tapir with a prehensile snout – these guys have a grasping tail that they can literally support their whole bodies. And if you notice at the tip of it there is a patch that doesn’t have any hair just a rough patch so that it can grip without slipping and it can give them that support that they need.”
These monkeys are naturally active and engaging. They are also more comfortable around humans here at the zoo than they are in the wild.
Jamal Andrewin Bohn
“In the wild spider monkeys do defend their territories. They hoot – they don’t how like their cousins but they tend to rock the trees; throw branches; they do urinate or defecate on the trees so the fact that we are not getting a hostile welcome is an indication that they have become accustomed to people and they have become trusting because of all the direct care that they get from the zoo keepers.”
The Spider Monkey is endangered in Belize. Their curiosity and intelligence make them a target for the illegal pet trade. The loss or disturbance of their habitat is also a problem that affects the species. These monkeys don’t thrive well when they are alone – they do better living together in communal or family groups – which is also another feature of their adaptation.
Jamal Andrewin Bohn
“They are highly social animals. This is one of the reasons they have survived well much like parrots and macaws being in a social group has many advantages for finding food and defence and so on. So, one little isolated monkey doesn’t thrive well on its own in a confined environment. So, all those adaptations mean nothing if they are not able to maximize them in their natural habitat.”
And to help keep these animals happy and safe – the exhibit for these spider monkeys mimic their natural environment with tall green trees – as well as provide a space to accommodate their other behaviors and habits. As Jamal Andrewin Bohn explains, these monkeys add a special charm to the Belize Zoo.
Jamal Andrewin Bohn
“Without fail, I would say the spider monkey exhibit is one of the exhibits that people spend the most time at and this is after years of observing. If you are to follow someone with a stop watch you’d see they spend a few minutes at the tapir or jaguar but people actually sit, comment on and interact with the monkeys because they give a lot of that interaction back without even the positive reinforcement of food, right. So, people like to develop a lot of empathy for these animals when they get that level of interaction. So, it is really valuable that we have that ability at the zoo to enhance that empathy and learning.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
Over the next few days we’ll give you a look at the lessons with the Tapirs, Scarlet Macaws and King Vultures.
