Howler Monkeys Regain Their Habitat

Jun 1, 2009

The population of howler monkeys in Guanacaste is experiencing a recovery, in places such as Santa Rosa National Park.

The howler monkey is a rainforest species, although it can also be found in the dry forest of the North Pacific, where it prefers high-canopy trees and  seeds on leaves, fruits, flowers and leave buds.

Howler monkeys can be seen in the Cahuita National Park (Caribbean) and in the Santa Rosa, Rincon de la Vieja and Guanacaste national parks in Guanacaste.

Recent scientific studies have found that howlers at Santa Rosa have been increasing their population in the past few years.

Adult howler monkeys are black, with a dark brown or blond back. A male can weigh 6 to 7 kilograms, while females are smaller (4 to 5 kilograms).

These monkeys are known and named for their strong howl, which can be heard more than 1 kilometer away in a dense forest. Such a powerful sound is produced by a special organ in their larynges, called hyoid, which is a bone that creates resonance.

Howler monkeys can be spotted from low-lying areas all the way up to mountain ecosystems (up to 2,500 meters above sea level), from Mexico south to the northern tip of South America. Howlers live in groups of two to 20 individuals, with males, females and juveniles living together.

Howler monkeys consume large amounts of leaves and are extremely selective, only eating certain parts of certain trees — always picking the best foods available.

Source: www.journalcr.com

Photo by: Sylvia Guardia M.