Recent observations on an island inhabited by Jicarón capuchins (Cebus capucinus imitator) reveal a troubling trend: young male capuchins are abducting infants from howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata coibensis). Researchers have begun to speak out against this practice. This census is characterized by innovation and duplicitous ethics in the relationships between these social mammal species.
The Jicarón capuchins are famous for their creative behaviors. Somehow, more recently, they’ve gotten even more curious and more active in their interactions with howler monkeys. One reason researchers think the absence of natural cord predators on the island would leave the capuchins bored. In the process, they might begin doing weird things. A young male capuchin named Joker stole the show. He became an international darling when he was photographed prancing around with a howler monkey on his back. At first, joint lead author Brendan Barrett thought this combination was too unusual to be true.
Further investigation revealed a pattern. Barrett’s team put together 19 months’ worth of camera trap footage. They found that Joker transported the first of four howler infants starting in January 2022. This trend took off in Sept of 2022 when four more young male capuchins started stealing howler infants. In all, five male capuchins abducted 11 howler infants during a period of 15 months.
It’s like that feeling when you expect to go see a horror movie, Barrett remarked about the unfolding events. Observers have witnessed capuchins using howler infants as puppets or dolls. This attitude conveys the idea that they don’t know the importance of their caregiver role.
Susan Perry, another researcher involved in the study, noted that these young capuchins appear “really delighted when they can get [the baby] from the mother and run off with it for a while.” Yet this behavior raises troubling ethical concerns. It endangers the health of the stolen babies, many of whom were only one or two days old when they were snatched.
The impacts to the endangered howler monkey population would be dire. Perry described the trend as “striking, and very concerning for this endangered howler population.” Historically, young howler infants have had a difficult time in the care of capuchins. Just like a retrospective observational study done in 2004 found that at least four infants perished in the period.
The motivations behind this behavior remain unclear. Barrett speculated that the capuchins may engage in such “interesting, weird, quirky and sometimes dark things” out of curiosity or playfulness. The absence of predators may play a role in their propensity to test out these bizarre new roles in their proverbial food chain.
As this research continues, it further emphasizes the significance of understanding animal behavior in response to external factors. The repercussions of these juvenile capuchins acts tend to directly impact their own species. They are the biggest threats to the howler monkeys’ very survival. Elucidating this complicated interplay will be key in deciding the best conservation tactics for both species.
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