CERCOPAN

Category: Cercopan, Monkeys, Uncategorized | Date: Dec 18 2007 | By: admin

Mottie, the Mona monkey shown in the shocking pictures in our introductory blog, has recently been moved into a new enclosure. After eight years without seeing another monkey, he is now sharing a home with mona orphans Offiong, Okon, Esai, Netim and Mary. As you can see he is very much the doting father, being protective of them if he feels they are threatened (even by a camera), spending considerable time carrying, grooming and playing with the young ones.

Mottie giving a warning look to the camera when he feels Offiong is threatened

Unfortunately, Mottie is also very protective of his food and so needs to be separated at meal times. His behaviour is understandable given that he arrived severely malnourished and had been fed nothing but garri (ground cassava) and the occasional banana for his entire life. He had also developed a compulsion for stalking, catching and eating flies. Sadly, supplementing his diet in this way was probably how he managed to stay alive as long as he did.

Mottie’s age and the length of time he spent alone, mean that he will never be a prime candidate for release. Nevertheless, he is happy, healthy, well fed, surrounded by his own kind, and will never again be without suitable food or friends.