Capuchins: Wild at Heart, Safe at Home

Capuchins are native to Central and South America and belong to a group known as New World monkeys. They range in color from black, cinnamon, caramel to a light cream. These monkeys are incredibly expressive, intelligent and full of character. In the wild a group or family of monkeys are called a Troop, they love to hang from their tails when playing, poke each other in the eye as a form of bonding, even throw rocks at their crushes, a behavior seen in courtship rituals. Capuchins live in structured societies led by a dominant Male, who is typically the father of most of the troop’s young. Fascinatingly, they naturally avoid inbreeding, when daughters mature, they only mate with lower-ranking males. The alpha male also acts as the protector, barking loudly to alert the group of predators. 

A heathy diet is crucial for monkeys in captivity, they need a wide variety of foods, such as vegetables, nuts, seeds, eggs, meat and monkey biscuits for overall nutrition. Fruits are their favorite treat but to much can lead to diabetes and shorten their life span. Monkeys will forage for food all day long.

Don’t be fooled by their cuteness, monkeys are wild animals. They are very mischievous, playful, and incredibly intelligent. As they mature they can become very unpredictable and aggresive, not suitable as pets for the average person.

Some Capuchins, for example, have dichromatic vision or are red-green colorblind and see the world in shades of blue and yellow, whereas others have trichromatic vision similar to that of humans, allowing them to distinguish red, orange, yellow and green.

The dark side of the pet trade is tragic, poachers kill mother monkeys and sometimes entire troops to steal their babies. These infants are trafficked across the U.S. border and sold illegally to unqualified buyers. Many owners abandon the monkeys once they reach maturity and become too difficult to manage.

Habitat loss is another urgent threat, primaesare also in danger due to rapid habitat destruction. Tropical forests are being bulldozed to make room for human development. This leaves primates  and other countless of other species cortically endangered and without a home.

Sanctuaries provide a vital refuge for exotic animals who cannot survive in the wild. Animals born in captivity often lack the instincts and skills needed to survive in their natural habitats. Releasing them into the wild is illegal and they would not survive. At Silhouette Island Sanctuary, we offer these exotic animals a safe heaven and loving environment where they can thrive. Sanctuaries matter because they give these animals a second chance at a peaceful life, free from exploitation and harm. They serve as a reminder of our responsibility to protect and care for the animals we share this planet with. There lives matter and here at SiS Foundation we are going to make a difference for these amazing exotic animals.