Capuchin Monkey
HAILEY joined us in October 2017 at 13 years old, surrendered by her owner along with another capuchin, Ember. Her family had moved from Arizona, where it’s legal to own a monkey, to California, where it’s not.
Hailey is a petite, endearing capuchin with a pixie-like face, a charming smile, and a sparkle in her eye. She quickly bonded with Marley, one of our neutered male capuchins, and we suspect she recently changed her Facebook status from "It's complicated" to "In a relationship" with him! Their bond is strong, and they spend their days playing and wrestling with each other.
Hailey also enjoys tickle sessions with a few humans she’s particularly close to, showcasing her playful and affectionate nature. She’s truly a sweetheart, and her fun-loving spirit brightens up everyone around her!
ORDER: PRIMATES
FAMILY: CEBIDAE
GENUS: SAPAJUS
SPECIES: APELLA
Capuchins are diurnal or day dwelling. They are arboreal, live in the trees. They move quadrupedally, by leaping and climbing. They are highly sociable and live in groups of around 8 to 15 individuals. Grooming is a way of taking care of the ones you love, but also climbing the social ladder. They live in a patriarchal society where the male is boss. They are omnivores and eat fruit, leaves, insects, rodents, and reptiles. They are polygamists. The female is pregnant for 150-160 days and normally has one baby at a time. The babies stop nursing at 9 months. Males mature at the age of 7 years, females, much younger, they can have their first child at the age of 4. Capuchins have a superpower, they are seed dispersers, which means they eat the seeds as part of the fruit they consume, and once they defecate, those seeds are ready to become plants and trees.
Threats
Habitat destruction. Jaguars, birds of prey and bushmeat, pet trade and entertainment industry.
Conservation Status
CE - Critically Endangered