Monkey Day

Wow, I had no idea that there was a monkey day. Those cute little fellows that many members of our families have considered their favorite animal. In fact I have a daughter who has the nickname of monkey. December 14th, today is Monkey Day.


Monkey Day is an unofficial holiday to raise awareness about monkey issues, monkeys in the news, and the ways you can help monkeys, apes and other primates. Monkey day was created and popularized by the artist Casey Sorrow and Eric Millikin.

All though many concerns that monkeys face are also faced by lemurs, primitive primates and apes a monkey is defines as any primate that is not human, prosimian or ape. Monkey's live in the jungles of Africa, Asia and South America. Old world monkeys populate Africa and Asia and New World monkeys live in South America. There are 264 different known species of monkeys A howler monkey would be considered New World while a baboon is an example of old world.

Did you know that a monkey has feelings just like humans?? Monkey's hunt and live in groups. Groups of moneys are called troops, tribes or missions. Monkey's can feel love, fear, compassion, anger and hate. Like humans monkeys will show affection for each other through hugs or holding hands. They live as a family nursing the young and taking care of the sick. They pet and groom each other.

The smallest monkey is the pygmy marmoset and can weigh up to 6 oz. with the largest being the Mandrill which can weigh up to 77 lbs.