Capuchin monkeys now at Mysore Zoo

If you have seen the playful monkey with artful facial expressions in the Hollywood film ‘Night at the Museum’ and adored it, here is an opportunity to see its impish peers. Mysore Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens) now has six capuchin monkeys and will allow the public to see them from Monday.

“Classified as Cebus apella, capuchin monkeys got their name (capuchin) from their hair, which is similar to the cowl or ‘capuche’ worn by Franciscan monks.  These primates are playful, graceful and expressive compared with normal monkeys,” said the zoo’s executive director BP Ravi.

The zoo’s veterinary specialist, Dr H Prayag, who received the monkeys at the Chennai airport, found them in very good spirit even after the long flight.

“The authorities at Zlín Zoo  (in the city of Zlín in the Czech Republic), from where the monkeys have been brought, sent their best breeding group to Mysore Zoo as they were confident that we will host them comfortably,” said Ravi.

Capuchin monkeys are diurnal and arboreal animals. These intelligent primates have a supple and slender body with thin limbs and hands similar to those of humans.  The head of the animal is round with the hair at the back darker than the rest of the coat.

The long hairy tail is partly prehensile—it serves as an anchor when they travel through the trees.

Capuchin monkeys, which eat fruits, eggs, insects, nuts and vegetables, live in low-lying rainforests.

They are native to Southern Central America and are found from Costa Rica to Paraguay and Trinidad.