Idea #655 – Observing the green monkey in the Bijilo forest in The Gambia
Green monkeys, called Chlorocebus are numerous in West Africa. This monkey is also known as Callitriche. The length of the body varies between 40 and 60 cm. The tail can reach up to 70 cm. The mass is between 4 and 6 kg. Males are much larger than females. The end of the tail is golden yellow and the back of the thighs and the favorites on the cheeks. He does not have a fur band on his forehead, like the other Chlorocebus species. The males have a pale blue or a little greenish scrotum. It lives on the edge of forested areas and in African savannahs, including Senegal, Gambia and Guinea. The green monkey lives on the ground, as well as in the trees.
It occurs in groups consisting of a few males, females and young, which can reach 80 individuals. Within groups there is a strict hierarchy for access to food and daily toilet care. Green monkeys are fairly reckless and do not fear cohabitation with humans in many large cities in Africa, where they often dispute human waste with other commensal animals, cats, rats and birds. Particularly agile, they are also able to steal food left unattended and sometimes engage in real looting in homes in search of food. In the wild, they do not hesitate to approach the man, like little beggars to try to take you, by the pity or the force, all the sweets or cakes that you could own. Do not hesitate to leave some peanuts or bananas!
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Bijilo National Park, Serrekunda, Gambia