Activity Patterns of Howler Monkeys in Captivity

Abstract

Howler monkeys are a diurnal genus of New World monkey whose diet may impact their frequency of activity and patterns of behavior. This study investigates this potential relationship by examining the activity frequency of black howler monkeys in captivity, where food is readily available. Captive howler monkeys were found to spend 77% of their time resting, 7% foraging or feeding, and 13% locomoting. When compared to wild specimens, these findings suggest that captivity and easy access to food are associated with more time resting, less time locomoting, and less time feeding or foraging. Future research should focus on investigating the effects of food accessibility on other primates in captivity to better understand how it influences their behavior and improve standards of captive primate care.