International Monkey Day!
International Monkey Day is celebrated on 14 December every year to raise awareness about the many threats that monkeys around the world face in the wild.
Monkey Facts
- Although difficult to pinpoint exactly when monkeys first emerged as a unique species within the animal kingdom, it is thought that their appearance took place approximately 60 million years ago
- The word ‘monkey’ originated in Germany in the Reynard Fox fable in the 1580s
- There are 262 monkey species worldwide, half of which are endangered.
- Monkey species are often separated into two groups – Old World Monkeys who live in Africa and Asia and New World Monkeys who live in South America
- The smallest monkey species is the pygmy marmoset. Fully grown adults weigh just 120 – 140 grams. They are a New World monkey and are found in countries located in the Amazon Basin in South America
Which monkey species are found in Zambia?
- Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrusI) which is very common throughout a variety of woodland types across the country
- Blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis) which live in evergreen forests and can be found at Kasanka National Park
- Maloney’s white-collard monkey (Cercopithecus Mitis Moloney) which is very rare and can only be found Muchinga Escarpment
- Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus) is the largest of the baboon species, weighing up to 45kgs and can be found in Southern Zambia, especially in Kafue National Park
- Yellow Baboon (Papio cynocephalus) can be found living in very large ‘troops’ of up to 200 individuals and can be found across central, northern and eastern Zambia, especially in the Luangwa Valley
- Kinda Baboon (Papio kindae) are smaller than other baboon species and can be found in Northern Zambia, especially in Kasanka National Park. You can find out more by visiting the Kasanka Baboon Project
History of Monkey Day
International Monkey Day was started in 2020 by two pioneering college students from Michigan State University. Whilst trying to overcome the winter blues during the holiday season, Casey Sorrow and Erik Millikin, jokingly jotted down “Monkey Day” in a friends calendar. Sorrow then took up the idea and on the 14 December he and his fellow art students dressed up as monkeys and ran amok as they put on their best monkey impressions. They went on to incorporate ideas related to their newly-formed holiday into their artwork and homemade comics. When they published these online, the notion of a Monkey Day spread.
Today, Monkey Day is observed in countries all over the world and also by international organisations, such as National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution and Greenpeace.
So what started out as a bit of fun has evolved into an internationally recognised day to celebrate monkeys, serving as an important anniversary to raise awareness of the plight of monkeys worldwide. Both Sorrow and Millikin are still active and utilise their monkey-themed art as a vehicle to promote monkey day. Their work has brought an entirely new understanding to the phrase ‘monkey business’!
Why not celebrate Monkey Day?
- Watch monkey media – from Curious George to Aladdin’s Abu, entertainment featuring primates can be fun for the whole family. So find an ape-propriate film and get watching!
- Visit a National Park – monkeys and baboons can be found in nearly all of Zambia’s national parks, so why not get out and watch them in the wild.
- Visit Chimfunshi located 65kms from Chingola. Chimfunsi is one of the largest and oldest chimpanzee sanctuaries of the world. They have over 130 chimpanzees which have been rescued from bushmeat/pet trade coming from all over the world. They also work hard to protect Zambian local wildlife, such as vervet monkeys, yellow baboons and birds of prey. Find out more at www.chimfunshiwildlife.org.
- Create Monkey Day Art – carry on Sorrow and Milikin’s tradition by painting and drawing monkey day art
For more monkey facts and ideas then visit Monkey Day online
And if you would like to work in monkey conservation then check out our jobs board as the Zambia Primate Project are looking for a new Executive Director.