MACI came to us in June 2014 at 3 years old as an illegally owned pet and was surrendered to us by her owners. She currently lives with a 4-year-old white faced capuchin Bailey, where Maci is like a big sister/auntie. Maci is a very sweet monkey, and she loves to play/wrestle with the people that she knows and loves, and she is a “cleaner” meaning she loves to steal our rakes when we are cleaning or take baby wipes from us while in her enclosure and cleans it herself. She has one other very special habit, she loves to make people who may or may not know each other, hold hands. I guess she is equivalent to a human match maker. She is also a bit of a scientist, often conducting her own monkey experiences. She figured out that if she fills one of her little play cups with water, she can carry it around with her like we carry a coffee cup. She is a hybrid, being part golden capuchin. Monkeys do not make good pets but your sponsorship will help us continue to give Maci the most amazing life we can in captivity.
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