Care for a monkey massage? Grey langurs spotted treating a wild dog to a grooming session in India

Pampered: The monkeys set about grooming a wild dog in Rajasthan, India

This wild dog enjoyed extra special treatment when a group of monkeys included it in their pampering session.
The pampered dog lay down to make itself more comfortable as the grey langur monkeys fussed around it and stroked its fur in Rajasthan, India.
After treating the dog to a head massage, the monkeys set about grooming one another.

Special treatment: The monkeys appeared to massage the dog's head as it basked in the heat in India

The unique moment was captured by wildlife photographer Cyril Ruoso, from Lailly in France, who had been observing the monkeys.

Fastidious: Groups of monkeys are often spotted grooming one another

'I was following a gray langur troop and they came across a wild dog,' the 42-year-old said.
'People were offering food to the monkeys and several dogs were around to take advantage of the kind visitors. The monkeys and dogs interacted in a very friendly manner, and the langurs even started to groom the dog - it was very happy about that
'The dog decided to make itself more comfortable by resting on the floor and the monkeys continued to stroke it,' he said.

Social: Wildlife photographer Cyril Ruoso said it was unusual to see this kind of social interaction taking place between different species

Grooming: Langur monkeys are usually grey with a black face and black ears

Mr Ruoso, a keen observer of monkeys and apes, said it was the first time he had witnessed a scene like it.
'When I take photographs I like to be surprised by what I've seen,' he said.
'And this kind of inter-species reaction was very surprising as you don't expect this kind of behaviour from different animals.'

source: dailymail

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The South American flower that looks like a monkey (and hopefully smells sweeter)

By STEVE ROBSON

Spotted: The 'monkey orchid' Mr Shandra found, left, is usually found in the cloud forests of Peru and Ecuador in South America and bears an uncanny resemblance to a monkey

A tourist in South America couldn't believe his eyes after stumbling across a flower resembling a monkey.
Brian Shandra, 34, was travelling in Ecuador where he visited Ecuagenera - a farm which specialises in orchids.
As he wandered around he was stunned to come across the 'dracula simia', a flower found in the cloud forests of Peru and Ecuador.

Doppleganger:The 'Monkey Orchid' is so-called for its resemblance to apes such as the golden monkey (file picture)

Brian, a research chemist from Boston, USA, described it as a perfect example of a 'simian pareidolia' where the face of a primate is seen in an entirely unrelated object.
He said: 'We were all shocked when all of a sudden we were confronted by all these little monkey faces staring back at us.
'The weird thing was that each one was a little bit different and almost seemed to have their own personalities.
'There was a happy one, a sad one, one with a little nose, big lips - a whole family. It was a little freaky.'

source: dailymail

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Drunken monkey! Meet the primate with a taste for a bottle of 2008 cabernet sauvignon

By SAM ADAMS

Red, red wine: This monkey looks desperate for a drink as he wrestles to open a bottle of cabinet sauvignon in Malaysia

Many of us like to relax with a nice glass of red wine after a hard day - and this monkey appears to be no different.
The playful primate was caught clutching a bottle of red wine just outside the University of Natural Sciences in Malaysia.
He seemed to be desperate for a drink as he wrestled with the 2008 cabernet sauvignon. Photographer and physics professor, Mihail Nazarov, was stunned when he came across the extraordinary scene.

Thirsty work: After finally popping the cork the monkey was spotted later clutching the empty bottle looking distinctly relaxed (right)

The 66-year-old, originally from Moldova, said the hundreds of monkeys around the campus regularly entertain staff and students.
He said: 'There are more monkeys than students here and they seem to feel relaxed, just like they are at home.

source: dailymail

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Dog's inquisitive friend makes a monkey of the local vet with a quick dentistry check-up

By SHARI MILLER

Just looking at your canines: The inquisitive Capuchin monkey checks out the pooch's pearly whites

It may have been that he misheard the old saying, but this dog decided anyway to put the monkey where his mouth is.
There's no waiting room, chair to lie down on or high-pitched drill to be seen, but here in the lush woodlands of an Ecuadorian village, a capuchin monkey seems to fancy himself as a dentist as he peers down deep into the jaws of a friendly dog.
One can only speculate that the mutt perhaps had a problem with his canines and the primate practitioner was more than happy to oblige.

Monkey massage: The primate practitioner feels around the dog's jawline during his check

Photographer Pete Oxford captured the unusual scene at the coastal resort of Puerto Misahualli, which is famed for its large population of the diminutive capuchins.
Coming across the pair, the 53-year-old said he was stunned to see just how close the dog and monkey appeared to be.
He said: 'The local dogs, this one in particular, obviously knew the monkeys very well. These two seemed to be best of friends, allowing lots of liberties between them.
'In these pictures the monkey seemed to be grooming the dog, both were very comfortable with each other and really seemed to enjoy the interaction.
'They were never aggressive towards each other and would even play fight.

Now open wide: The diminutive dentist takes one last look before the check-up is complete

'I was enthralled by the interaction having never seen anything like it before.
'People I have shown the images to have difficulty believing that these are indeed free roaming wild monkeys, but everyone finds the images entertaining.'
Mr Oxford, who lives in Ecuador with his wife Renee, added: 'I had visited this town because I had heard about these wild monkeys.
'I went down the beach and found the monkeys enjoying it as much as the people. It was pretty incredible to see.
'Some of them had 'borrowed' a football and were playing with it.
'Others were catching fish in the river under the rocks and some, like this one were interacting with the local dogs.'

source: dailymail

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Look, mum’s GIBBON me a lift! Latest addition to Israel zoo is just seven days old (and badly needs some hair)

By ANTHONY BOND

Cute: This seven-day-old Siamang Gibbon can't bear being away from his mum. As she walks around an Israeli zoo the youngster clings on to her chest for dear life

No matter what kind of animal you are, every newborn needs the protection and love of its mother.
And as these pictures show, this seven-day-old ape can't bear to be away from his mum.
The Siamang Gibbon, weighing 170 grams, was born at a safari park and zoo in Ramat Gan, Israel.

Keeping close: The baby was born weighing 170 grams at a safari park and zoo in Ramat Gan, Israel

Adorable: The cute baby looks like he doesn't want to let go as he clings to mother Jamby, at times completely sprawled across her chest

These stunning pictures show the baby clinging for his life to mother Jamby, at times completely sprawled across her chest.
And it seems the mum is happy to oblige as she clearly appears protective around her newborn.
At one point the tired-looking mum takes a much needed rest and puts her feet up as she cradles her cute son.
The striking pictures show how much the youngster will develop - as compared to his mum he is tiny and almost entirely bald.

The Siamang Gibbon is found mainly on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the Malaysian peninsula

Close: The Siamang Gibbon is the largest of the lesser apes and can be twice the size of other gibbons

The Siamang Gibbon is found mainly on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the Malaysian peninsula.
They are the largest of the lesser apes and can be twice the size of other gibbons. They often reach 1 metre in height and can weigh up to 14 kg.
The main threat to the siamang is the habitat loss in Malaysia and Sumatra. Large areas of their habitat in forests is being cleared away by the palm oil production industry, reducing the natural habitat of the animal.
They eat mainly parts of plants and can eat up to 160 species of plants. The siamang can live more than 30 years in captivity.

Taking a break: At one point the tired-looking mum takes a much needed rest and puts her feet up as she cradles her cute son

Family: The striking pictures show how much the youngster will develop - as compared to his mum he is tiny and almost entirely bald

source: dailymail

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Shocking pictures show cruel treatment of monkeys forced to wear masks and ride tiny bicycles to earn money for their captors

By KERRY MCDERMOTT

A captive monkey dressed in a tiny t-shirt and pair of trousers holds a begging bowl on the streets of Jakarta

Cruel pictures have emerged of monkeys in red costumes and masks being forced by their owners to perform on the streets for money.
Images captured on the streets of Jakarta, Indonesia, show the creatures holding begging bowls, dressed in blue sports shorts and even clad in clown masks.
The heart-meltingly cute macaques have been forced to ride mini bicycles, sit on tiny stools and even play dead to entertain crowds.
The monkeys are part of a show called Topeng Monyet (Monkey's Mask), in the Indonesian capital.

A chain is visible around the neck of the cute macaque monkey in this picture, which shows the once wild creature being made to ride a bicycle to entertain passersby

Some locals in Jakarta believe the practices captured in these images are part of their traditional culture, but the Jakarta Animal Aid Network said the monkeys are being cruelly exploited for 'small change'

Some locals insist this is part of their traditional culture, whereas others acknowledge the cruelty being inflicted on the captive macaques.
The website for the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (Jaan), a charity that feeds rescued performing monkeys, explains how these once-wild creatures end up suffering in this way.
'Poverty drives the handlers to exploit the monkeys in the hope of earning small change,' it says.
'From the forest they are captured and taken to 'monkey village', where the animals are trained to take part in street performances.

Handlers train the monkeys to play dead for audiences on Jakarta's streets

'The street performances usually involve the monkeys wearing masks, such as dolls' heads, and other attire to mimic humans.
'The monkeys have been trained to act out activities such as shopping, riding bicycles, or other simulations of human behaviour.
'But the cruelty to the monkeys is a cause that charities such as the Jakarta Animal Aid Network are increasingly taking up.'

Children pet one of the captive monkeys forced to perform as part of the Monkey's Mask show

The Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) charity is working to help put an end to the illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia

source: dailymail

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Living on the edge: Monkey mother balances with her baby on the side of a 1,000 metre mountain drop

By JILL REILLY

Don't look down: This baby macaque clings on to its carefree mother as she perches above a 1,000 metre mountain drop on Lombok Island, Indonesia

As she looks around in a carefree fashion with her baby macaque holding on tightly, it's hard to believe this monkey mother is so confident while perching on the edge of a 1,000 metre mountain drop.
The long-tailed grey macaque monkey threw caution to the wind at the dizzying height on Lombok Island, Indonesia.
Photographer Marian Kaczmarczyk, 37, from Teddington, London, captured the snap while trekking to Mount Rinjani.
Mr Kaczmarczyk decided to stay at base camp while others went to the summit and the monkeys turned up to rifle through their leftovers.
He said: 'There were about 20 monkeys and they were very clever because they knew the group would leave food for them.
'I was really surprised by how many of them live and survive so high in the mountains.

Caught on camera: Photographer Marian Kaczmarczyk, 37, from Teddington, London, captured the snap while trekking to Mount Rinjani

'The mum appeared at the edge with her baby and I only had a few seconds to get the shot.'I wasn't surprised at the height because I've seen them sleeping high up in the trees.
'I think they have so much strength in their tails, upper and lower limbs they can easily rest, seat and move everywhere they like.

Rocky landscape: The view from the edge of where the mother and baby were perched

'The drop under the monkey with her baby was approximately 1,000 metres and it looked quite dramatic when she held the baby in that spot.
'I had to be extremely because they are noisy, have an aggressive temperament and sometimes travel in large troupes.'
Marian added: 'I was very happy and proud when I saw the photos and they were the best photos of my time in Indonesia.'

source: dailymail

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One monkey and his dog: Primate rounds up sheep at the rodeo, on the back of a border collie

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Bud the border collie and Whiplash the Rodeo Monkey performing in Reno, Nevada

They are an inseparable double act – Bud the border collie and Whiplash the Capuchin monkey.
What’s more, there’s nothing they like better than rounding up sheep – to the delight of the crowds at the rodeo in Reno, Nevada.
Whiplash, 27, is now a favourite at the rodeos in the US south-west.
According to owner Tommy Lucia, he keeps his collies on a short rein.
‘The sheepdogs know their place and he curses them if they are not doing what he says,’ he said.

Monkey magic: Whiplash shows off his moves in the rodeo arena

'He's got such a strong will you never quite know what he's going to do - there's always a surprise. But he's a natural in the saddle.
'When he's done for the day he goes to our motor home for dinner. His favourite foods are pears, apples, bananas and especially strawberries.'

Whiplash, riding a trusty border collie for a steed, concentrates on the job in hand - rounding up sheep

A little help from his friend: Owner Tommy Lucia leads Whiplash by the hand in preparation for his routine

Mr Lucia dismisses claims from animal campaigners that Whiplash would be better off in the rainforests of Central or South America, his native habitat.
'I rescued him from a stinking cage in Florida when he was just a baby and I can assure you he'd let me know if life wasn't good,' he declared.

Western: Whiplash has the studied air of an old-fashioned cowboy as he rides Bud through the ring


Popular: A large crowd turned out to watch Whiplash strut his impressive stuff in Reno

source: dailymail

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Is this the world's cutest baby monkey? Tiny grey langur shows his beautiful blue eyes during stunning close-up

By CHRIS PARSONS

Ready for my close-up: The adorable baby grey langur monkey showed he was not camera shy when pictured near his Indian home

This tiny baby monkey may still be making his way in the world, but he certainly does not appear camera shy.
The little grey langur baby already boasted a pair of beautiful deep blue eyes when he played up to the camera near his home in India.
The baby creature was captured by Russian photographer Sotskov Nikolay with other wild monkeys near the city of Bhubaneshvar in India.
Although the 29-year-old amateur snapper pictured this adorable baby langur in India, the species live anywhere from the Himalayas to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and even Afghanistan.


Baby steps: The tiny creature was spotted with other wild monkeys at a temple in Bhubaneshvar, India

Grey langurs generally prefer the highest branches of trees, but when living in human environments are known to settle at the top of towers and even electric poles.
Some rarer species of grey langurs have a threatened conservation status, with only hundreds remaining in the world, but there are thought to be around 300,000 langurs currently in India.

source: dailymail

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Ok, so who knows how to drive? Forty safari park monkeys challenged to pull apart brand new car

By JILL REILLY

Monkey business: Hyundai's new family hatchback was put to the ultimate test at Knowsley Safari Park, in Merseyside, where the baboons are well known for mobbing visitors' motors

They press all the buttons, try to open the windows, then drop their lunch down every crevice in the upholstery.
And that’s just the kids when you take them for a drive in the car.
So what better way to test the durability of a brand new family saloon than to leave it at the mercy of a troop of cheeky little monkeys?
That is precisely what Korean car maker Hyundai did when it wanted to discover how its new i30 hatchback would withstand the ordeal of so many inquisitive minds, prying fingers and sticky paw marks. Not to mention the unmentionable from a species never noted for potty-training.

I like driving in my car: Designers wanted to see if the extra-strong materials interior materials and wipe-clean plastics would withstand 10 hours of rough handling

At one stage there were 40 baboons road-testing the car, jumping up and down on the seats and clambering through the ‘panoramic ambience’ (Hyundai’s phrase) of the sliding glass roof.
About the only difference between the primates and their counterpart human rascals was that the one in the back never asked: ‘Are we nearly there yet?’
Baboons at Knowsley Safari Park in Merseyside are no strangers to ripping apart family cars but are actually highly intelligent.

Time to play: As soon as it was left unattended in the ape enclosure dozens rushed to clamber all over their new toy - the monkeys also managed to pull off part of a door seal but this was easily pushed back in to place

Exploring: Some pushed and prodded interior buttons while others played with the storage bins. They even experimented with the car’s cupholders, using plastic drinking beakers they had been given


Can't catch me: Normally the monkey's can't touch a car aerial, so this one grabs the chance with both hands

I like driving in my car: Designers wanted to see if the extra-strong materials interior materials and wipe-clean plastics would withstand 10 hours of rough handling

The automotive monkey-business was inspired by another great mind – Wayne Rooney – whose £80,000 Audi was damaged by the mob when the footballer visited the park last year.
The Hyundai was handed over to the troop for ten hours and left unattended. Designers wanted to see how the finish would stand up to the kind of punishment the average child might inflict during the car’s lifetime.
Dozens of the animals colonised it from the moment it was driven into their enclosure.

Helping hand: Now Hyundai hopes the lessons learnt from the monkey test will help future research and development

Happy monkeys: David Ross, from the park, said the baboons loved playing with the car. 'For a baboon to have a car to play with for the whole day is manna from heaven. These baboons are incredibly inquisitive,' he said

After the challenge: Hyundai's new family hatchback after the test at Knowsley Safari Park, where the baboons are well known for mobbing visitors' motors

Result: a few scrapes, lots of smears and finger marks, a dislodged rubber door seal that was rejected as a snack, plus some tooth marks in the steering wheel. The good news: no one stole the alloys.
‘Safari park monkeys are particularly good at discovering weak points on cars and then pulling, prodding and tearing at the parts until they break,’ said Hyundai project manager Felicity Wood.
The park’s general manager David Ross said the baboons, which can weigh up to 66lb, ‘thoroughly enjoyed’ the experiment.
He added: ‘For a baboon to have a car to play with for the whole day is manna from heaven.’


WAG monkey attack: Last year Coleen Rooney posted a picture on Twitter of one of the cheeky apes pulling at a windscreen wiper on footballer husband Wayne’s £80,000 Audi

source: dailymail

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No need to go ape: Slouching simian refuses to put on a show for zoo visitors

By DAMIEN GAYLE

Not going ape: This chilled out chimp doesn't seem to have the inclination to put on a performance for visitors to the zoo in Shijiazhuang, China, where he lives

This chilled out chimp doesn't give a monkey's what anyone thinks as he soaks up the sunshine in a Chinese zoo.
Lying on the ground with his legs crossed and a hand behind his head, his pose shows just how similar humans are to our closest cousins in the animal kingdom.
Normally found in the forests of West and Central Africa, chimpanzees have been found to share about 94 per cent of their DNA with humans.

They are notorious for their aggression, but are famously clever and have been observed to behave altruistically and even spiritually.
In the wild, they use tools - including spears, even - for hunting, dance rain dances, and appear to show appreciation for natural beauty such as sunsets over a lake.
This simian was seen slouching in his pen at a zoo in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province.
He looks relaxed, but his face seems to betray a sense of melancholy. Perhaps, so far away from his native forests, he is simply missing home.

source: dailymail

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May the cutest win! Adorable video shows baby monkey locked in playfight with competitive kitten

By EMMA REYNOLDS

Missed by a whisker! The tiny animals look almost perfectly matched as they chase each other over the grass beside the River Nile in Uganda

This adorable video shows a cute kitten and a baby monkey locked in a fierce but friendly playfight.
The tiny animals look almost perfectly matched as they chase each other over the grass beside the River Nile in Uganda, in front of a group of enchanted onlookers.
Both make the occasional unsteady swipe, with the plucky kitten even trying to climb up some railings to reach its agile opponent.


Crazy cat: The frolicking feline even tries to reach up to get the monkey as it darts up on to a metal rail

Stand-off: The young animals circle each warily as they fight to be considered the bravest

The hilarious footage shows each taking the competition rather seriously, both circling warily and chasing the other one's tail.
'Monkey's not that fast on flat ground,' observes one intrigued spectator, before chuckling as the kitten tumbles over.
At one point the furry feline almost takes on a dog, tapping the much larger animal on the nose as a voice comments: 'Ginger's getting involved now!'
Later, the minuscule monkey falls on to its back as the cute kitten bats it with a paw.

Giant leap: The monkey takes a huge jump towards the nervous-looking kitten

Softly softly: The cheeky monkey tries the catch the wily cat, but to no avail

This is personal: For a moment, it looks as though the combat might get nasty as the monkey falls on its back

Calling a truce: Eventually, the two little animals and their canine companion settle down for a peaceful evening in the beautiful setting

For a moment, it looks as though the rough and tumble might get nasty, but the young observers sigh with relief as the kitten lets the monkey go and it leaps off to the highest spot it can find.
Finally, the pretty outdoor scene is at peace and the three animals calmly wander around, licking their paws clean.
Some YouTube viewers observed that animal rights' activists could be concerned, but most were delighted by the video of the tiny adversaries.



source: dailymail

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