New England Primate Conservancy

09/06/2026

Gorgeous!

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

Leaves are not easy to digest, but these primates have a sacculated stomach. This means their stomach is divided into several chambers, each with specific functions, similar to the stomach of a ruminant. Bacteria in the upper part of the stomach break down cellulose by fermentation and neutralize the toxins contained in the leaves. The breakdown of the cellulose enables better absorption of the nutrients contained in foliage. This is a great adaptation as it allows these monkeys to consume leaves from many species of trees and easily find food wherever they are. Learn more: neprimateconservancy.org/javan-fuscous-leaf-monkey/

09/05/2026

Prepare for an exciting journey into the science of species identification! Discover how to classify nonhuman primates as you put on your scientist hat, decode clues, and create dichotomous keys to tell feisty tamarins apart from lively lemurs. Let the scientific sleuthing begin! neprimateconservancy.org/dichotomous-key/

09/05/2026

Gibbons are known for their loud, early-morning songs. Western hoolock gibbons have their own morning symphonies, specific to their species, with characteristics that are inherited, not learned, and are performed from their sleeping trees just after dawn, lasting 15 to 18 minutes. Rich, melodic, and harmonious, these vocalizations are a blend of alternating high and low notes, typically sung as a male-female duet. Unlike some gibbon species, male and female hoolock vocalizations are alike. Though a small throat sac on the female may amplify her notes. Singing in unison, the mated couple begins their song with an introductory sequence, gradually quickening their notes to become more intense with each successive call, finishing with a great-call sequence that reverberates throughout the forest. Apart from the musical enchantment, these loud morning songs allow a mated couple to announce and defend their territory. Learn more: neprimateconservancy.org/western-hoolock-gibbon/

09/04/2026

Looking for a lesson that builds critical thinking without adding prep time? Educated Guesses helps students practice evidence-based reasoning using primate diversity as a case study. The focus is on how students think—not on getting the “right” answer. Strong alignment with scientific thinking skills. neprimateconservancy.org/educated-guesses/

09/04/2026

Neblina uakaris eat a lot of seeds. Even when they feed on fruits, they crack open the seeds inside them to eat them. This is unlike most other primates, who tend to discard the hard-to-eat seeds. So, Neblina uakaris are able to take advantage of food sources that most other animals in the rainforest ignore, thereby avoiding resource competition.

The Amazon forest may seem green and lush year-round, but there are months in which trees do not produce fruits. In these low-food times, usually between August and October, Neblina uakaris eat insects. They also feed on leaves, flowers, and nectar when seeds are scarce. Learn more: neprimateconservancy.org/neblina-uakari/

09/03/2026

Barbary macaques are the only monkeys living in the wild in Europe—and the only macaques found outside of Asia. From North Africa’s forests to Gibraltar, they’ve adapted to surprising environments. Habitat loss, human encroachment, and the illegal pet trade threaten wild populations.
Since we recorded this video, another macaque species has been named, so there are 25 macaque species, with the Barbary macaque still being the only one outside of Asia.

Barbary macaques are the only monkeys living in the wild in Europe—...

09/03/2026

Allogrooming (mutual grooming) is a very important form of social bonding. Territorial behaviors include chasing, vocalizing, body language displays, and staring. Olfactory communication is particularly important. Individuals scratch papyrus leaves with their teeth and urinate on them or rub them onto their scent glands to leave their scent. Vocalizations include grunts, clicks, screeches, trembles, teeth grinding, and purring. Infants purr when being groomed and screech when separated from their mother. Mothers emit a low-pitched grunt sound when reunited with their young. Learn more: neprimateconservancy.org/lac-alaotra-gentle-lemur/

09/02/2026

Baboons are large, clever, mostly ground-dwelling monkeys who live in sizeable, complex troops with intricate social lives. Frequently maligned and underappreciated. Six beautiful baboon species grace Africa's savannas and woodlands.

Baboons are large, clever, mostly ground-dwelling monkeys who live ...