The most abundant monkey species of the Amazon rainforest, the squirrel monkey forms troops of as many as 300 in the wild. Commonly found near large bodies of water, they lead an arboreal life in the forest canopy.

These opportunistic feeders feast on fruits and leaves when the forests are flooded. In the dry season, they adopt a more insectivorous diet.

Our troop at the Squirrel Monkey Forest is fed carrots, long beans, sweet potatoes, almonds and hazelnuts during token feeding times.

Squirrel monkeys have at least 25 to 30 calls, which can be broadly categorised as peeps, twitters, chucks, cackles, pulsed calls and noisy calls.

They are also known to engage in a “urine-washing” display, where the monkey, male or female of any age, urinates on its hands and feet and then wipes them on its shoulders, arms, and legs.

This may be a display of dominance, or it could serve to communicate reproductive hormone levels, even regulate body temperature.

Our monkeys traverse the Squirrel Monkey Forest with their ‘urine-washed’ hands and feet. They use the railing of the boardwalk as their main passageway, leaving the scent of their urine as they go. Be mindful that the monkeys are extremely territorial, so keep your hands (and scent) to yourself. Observe them from a respectful distance and do not reach out to touch them. Please also refrain from bringing food into the aviary.