Camping and Monkeys

I love this question and thus I've researched a little bit. Just as you've wished I don't talk about the encounter with a monkey or something. I just show off the different races and their ability to adapt to humans in their territory.

What I wanted to make clear: I absolutely assume that the reader doesn't provoke the animals in any way!

Introduction

Camping with monkeys is generally an easy thing. They don't assume you as danger or something. They might get a little curious but that's it. That does however not mean to underestimate them. Monkeys can be dangerous if provoked somehow.

This applies generally to all monkeys in disagreement with the comments beneath the question.

Scientific definition of monkey:

Monkeys are haplorhine ("dry-nosed") primates, a paraphyletic group generally possessing tails and consisting of approximately 260 known living species. Many monkey species are tree-dwelling (arboreal), although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Most species are also active during the day (diurnal). Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent, particularly Old World monkeys.

Lemurs, lorises, and galagos are not monkeys; instead they are strepsirrhine ("wet-nosed") primates. Like monkeys, tarsiers are haplorhine primates; however, they are also not monkeys.

From Wikipedia

There are even several camping tours which let you camp in such territories.

Of course you absolutely (!) should avoid camping in ape's territory. They are up to no good :) Luckily they're not subject of this question.

I just wanted to make clear that apes, strepsirrhine etc. are another topic and that this answer thus doesn't apply to them.

Rating system

• Social ties

  How they are attached to their peers. The lower their ties, the harder to get in an encounter. For example "high rated" species often have several leaders which are - of course - provoked more easily then loners which aren't responsible for a whole group.

  • Low: kind of loners
  • Medium: small groups with flat hierarchy
  • High: groups with strict hierarchy

• Sleeping behaviour

  Are they awake during the night or day? The most species are active during the day (diurnal). This is important if you want to sleep.

• Territoriality

  Do they have a fixed territory and thus defend it?

  • No territory
  • Nomads
  • Territory

• Living together

  Ranges from bad over medium to perfect. It's an overall rating how they do with humans. Are they able to adapt to them? In which relationship do they live with them?

Gray Langur

Is absolutely nice to camp with.

• Social ties: medium
• Sleeping behaviour: diurnal
• Territoriality: no territory
• Living together: perfect

They can adapt well to human settlements, and are found in villages, towns and areas with housing or agriculture. They live in densely populated cities like Jodhpur, which has a population numbering up to a million.

This section might make the Langur seem to be a little bit like a pet but it isn't! When provoked or threatened in any way it can be absolutely dangerous! As I already stated this answer only refers to the basic "I camp and monkey does monkey things."-situation.

OWRAH: A langur went berserk and attacked passengers at Howrah Station in the wee hours of Thursday. The incident left at least five people severely injured.

Bonnet Macaque

Is okay to camp with.

• Social ties: high
• Sleeping behaviour: diurnal
• Territoriality: no territory
• Living together: medium

Thus they are well adapted to humans you should hold in mind that they've a strict hierarchy. An alpha, beta and gamma male will try to protect their group! Respect this and you'll be fine.

Rhesus Macaque

Is perfect to camp with.

• Social ties: high
• Sleeping behaviour: diurnal
• Territoriality: no territory
• Living together: perfect

Rhesus macaques are noted for their tendency to move from rural to urban areas, coming to rely on handouts or refuse from humans. They adapt well to human presence and form larger troops in human-dominated landscapes than in forests.

posted almost 9 years ago

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OddDeer‭

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