Golden Monkey is a rare species that are endangered at the moment and they are currently found in the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda. They are easily recognized due to the yellow patches that can be seen all over their bodies.
The Golden monkey is also known as the Old World monkey and the only way to separate these primates from others is by their noses. Most of the monkeys have their nostrils pointing to the sides but if you look closely at the golden mo keys, their nostrils face upwards.
Golden monkeys have unique characters that are bound to them and can only be seen when one visits the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda to see them. And in order to get to know more about these primates, we are going to discuss the golden monkeys in the form of questions so that we get a better understanding of these animals.
Where can I find the Golden Monkey?
The golden monkeys live in the Albertine region and they are Albertine Endemics. The Albertine region refers to the area which is filled with valleys and Mountains including various tree species that make up the forests surrounding the area.
In Rwanda, the golden monkeys are found in the Virunga Mountains which have various game parks and these are shared by three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. You might be wondering what endemic means, it refers to species that are confined in that specific area. Visit the Virunga in Rwanda and enjoy the presence of these beautiful primates.
How do the golden monkeys communicate with each other?
Like any other animal species found on Earth, monkeys also communicate and scientists have come to reveal how the golden mo keys communicate with one another. They normally communicate through gestures using hands, vocalization and facial expressions. They wave their hands about in order to tell others what they need and most of them communicate with a purpose.
The young golden monkeys normally use call communications to show their submissiveness to the older ones, the male primates use their call communications to show the hat they own the territory and as a sign of aggression, whereas the female golden mo keys use call signs for bringing the group of monkeys together.
Where do the golden monkeys’ nest?
Most people believe that they live in the open up in the trees but what they do not know is that these golden monkeys weave various bamboo plants together to make a nest where they nest and make their homes. These bamboo trees are weaved together to make beds where they rest after a long day.
What is the overall population of the Golden monkeys in Rwanda?
The Golden monkeys are becoming extinct and it is believed that some of the reasons for this are the limited area where they habitat from. The population is believed to be about 2500 to 3500 but it is reducing at a drastic rate. They all live in the Albertine in the Virunga forests but they have been endangered Sue to the human population cutting down trees so as to get vast land for farming and settlement.
How did they come to be known as golden monkeys?
They came to be known as golden monkeys due to their color. They have contrast colors that are they have black legs, the cheeks are golden yellow and this can also be seen on the torso and the back and it also has patches of the gold around the eyes and this greatly contrasts with the black legs.
What do the golden monkeys feed on?
The feeding areas for the golden monkeys are mostly located in areas where they sleep to make it easy for them to get food. The monkeys then take trips to the food places or foliages and bring back for the group especially the young ones.
The golden monkeys normally are herbivores and feed on the plants that are found in the forests. They also fed on the various fruits but their major food is the bamboo but they also adapt to the different seasons that affect the forests and therefore can eat anything that is available to them as long as it is edible like shrubs, larvae found on the trees, flowers, branchlets, shoots and many more others.
How does the Golden monkey live?
The Golden monkeys live in groups of 30 to 80 and they always have one male monkey showing dominance over the rest in the group. The male monkeys travel from group to group and can mate from all the groups whereas the females tend to guard only one territory. The life span of these golden monkeys is twenty years.
They are known to be very social animals living in groups that are dominated by one male. They are very active during the day and they can be seen jumping from one tree to the next all day long. They normally sleep on top of the different bamboo trees in the self-made trees in the forests and they go to sleep they always crowd themselves into groups of four for easy protection, especially for the young ones.
The mating habits of the Golden monkeys
This is not a clearly known topic but the females always initiate the mating period. Due to the fact that there is always one male predominant in the group, the monkeys become polygynous as one male mate with all the females in the group. The males live temporarily in a group and they go to other groups to continue mating.
The females are known to give birth every two years since their gestation period lasts for only five months and they give birth to only one infant-like human. By the time they give birth, the baby will be well developed and it will be natured by the mother for the first months and as time goes on, the mother stops feeding the baby in preparation for the next gestation period. And once the monkey reaches puberty it leaves the natal group to join the older monkeys.
After looking at the various traits of the Golden Monkey, we are about to find out how to go for the golden monkeys trekking Safari in Rwanda, where to go and what you need on this tour.
This is a very exciting experience and thrilling as you get to see the different primates along the way but most especially the Golden monkeys. These are located in the Volcanoes National Park which is located on the Virunga area and you will be able to recognize them due to the gold coating that they have on their bodies. Going in for the Golden monkey trekking will also involve the gorilla trekking so you get a two in one experience.
The Golden monkeys in Rwanda are divided into two troops and the largest is located in the Sabinyo and this has 80 to 100 monkeys and it is the most visited troop in Rwanda. The other troop is located in Volcanoes and it is slightly smaller in number.
Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda has only one session in a day and it’s you miss it, you would have to wait for another day. The trekking starts very early in the morning in the Volcanoes National Park and the trek start from a place that is only fifteen minutes away from the park.
The permits for golden mo keys trekking in Rwanda go for 100 Dollars each and the good think about the trek is that it does not limit the age of the people who are to participate in the trek and the number of people.
The mo keys are easily found since most of them live just right below the Volcanoes Mountain and can be seen swinging from the bamboo trees in the forest. The guests get to see monkeys that have short tails that were cut off because they got stuck in the bamboo trees and they get an hour to view the creatures and get to know about their different characteristics from the experienced your guide who goes with them.
What is needed for a great hike?
- There are several things that you need to know so as to enjoy the Golden mo keys trekking and some of these include
- When taking photographs, flashes are not allowed on the cameras as they scare the monkeys away.
- You need to carry food or snacks and water for the hike.
- You will also need a rain jacket because the weather in the area is unpredictable.
- You will also need to carry good hiking shoes that do not slide due to the wet ground.
The monkeys also move out in the open and feast on the cones and food in the fields owned by the farmers near the forest making it easy for the tourists to see them as they swing back and forth. Book Now