New England Primate Conservancy

08/31/2026

Graceful, colorful, and endlessly adaptable—Africa’s monkeys are living portraits of diversity. From the forest canopy to open savannas, nearly a hundred species thrive across the continent. Each tells a story of evolution through color, movement, and behavior.
Discover how their physical traits reveal a world of adaptation and intelligence. Enjoy a closer look at how Africa’s monkeys embody the beauty, balance, and complexity of life in one of the world’s most extraordinary regions.

Graceful, colorful, and endlessly adaptable—Africa’s monkeys are li...

08/31/2026

Dent’s monkeys use a wide array of communication tactics. Though they tend to be on the quiet side, they emit several types of calls. Contact calls are short, and are used while foraging to maintain cohesion in a group and ensure that no one individual strays too far. Alarm calls are used to alert groupmates to the presence of a potential predator. Males also emit calls to claim their territory. These can be heard from a long distance so all monkeys in the area know that there is a dominant male nearby. Learn more: neprimateconservancy.org/dents-monkey/

08/30/2026

Join a virtual scavenger hunt across NEPC’s website and explore the world of primate conservation. Guided steps help you gather clues that reveal a mystery quote, making learning both fun and interactive. Covering a variety of topics on conservation and primate protection, this activity is especially popular in high school programs but can also engage younger students with teacher support. neprimateconservancy.org/conservation-exploration/

08/30/2026

Central chimpanzees share their habitat with another great ape, the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), or in other words, they are sympatric species. They also share many of the same food sources; their diets overlap 50 to 80% in some regions. In such cases, how do these great apes avoid compet**ion and survive without pushing one species out of the habitat? Chimpanzees eat fruit throughout the year, and their digestive systems are better adapted to eating fat-rich fruits and nuts (such as coconuts). Gorillas have broader and stronger teeth, allowing them to eat more woody and leafy foods when fruits are unavailable. This slight separation in food choices or niche part**ioning allows gorillas and chimpanzees to co-exist without competing. Learn more: https://neprimateconservancy.org/central-chimpanzee/

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08/29/2026

08/29/2026

Capped langurs have a variety of vocal calls and gestures used to communicate specific messages, such as whooping, barking, growling, coughing, peeping, and begging. Interestingly, studies have also identified that many of these calls are specific to different sex-age classes. For example, females or juveniles may emit a high-pitched call during conflict to communicate their distress, while adult males may produce a deeper, low-pitched growl to communicate a similar message. Learn more: neprimateconservancy.org/capped-langur/

08/28/2026

Welcome to Primate Jeopardy! Based on the classic TV game show, test your knowledge of primates or explore the NEPC website for answers. Learn fascinating facts about the world's nonhuman primates—their habitats, behaviors, and ways you can help protect them. And remember: always answer in the form of a question!
neprimateconservancy.org/primate-jeopardy/

08/28/2026

The main form of communication for which the coastal black-handed t**i is best known is their “dawn call.” This shared serenade is performed by the breeding pair and can last from a minute up to an hour. Scientists speculate these calls are part of the effort to maintain territorial boundaries between neighboring groups by warning others to keep their distance, as the coastal black-handed t**i is defensive, territorial, and may be aggressive toward rivals. Learn more: neprimateconservancy.org/coastal-black-handed-t**i/

08/27/2026

Tarsiers are among the world's most unusual animals! They are surely the most unique primates. Small, nocturnal, arboreal, mostly solitary, and the only fully carnivorous primates. They can turn their heads 180° on each side, and they can hunt in darkness by hearing their prey. They are perfect predators.

Tarsiers are among the world's most unusual animals! They are surel...

08/27/2026

Bonnet macaques are social creatures; they have adopted a wide array of communication methods through gestures, facial expressions, and sounds. These behaviors are critical in the function of their social hierarchy, with low-ranked macaques using specific submissive gestures and expressions when interacting with high-ranked counterparts. The ritual of social grooming plays a role in non-verbal group communication, helping to minimize tension and build social bonds. Learn more: https://neprimateconservancy.org/bonnet-macaque/