Woolly Monkey
Lagothrix spp.
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This monkey gets its name from having short, thick, close-curled fur. Some individuals have a darker covering of fur on their head, but their naked face is always black. They have a prehensile tail, which is bare and leathery on the under-surface to provide grip. Woolly monkeys are found in the canopy of the tallest trees as well as in the shrub layer, often in groups of 30 – 40 individuals. Within these groups the males maintain an intragroup hierarchy by aggressive dominance displays. When they venture down to the ground, they walk upright and hold their arms outwards to maintain balance. They are more susceptible to hunting than other primates because of their large size and reported flavour of their meat. They are also desired as pets and fetch $80 each. The mother must be killed in order to steal her infant, and it is estimated that 10 females die for every infant brought to market.
Ash with Lorilla the semi-tame woolly monkey at the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve
