Capuchin monkeys on Jicarón Island, Panama, have adopted a disturbing behavior of abducting young howler monkeys, leading to the deaths of at least four infants since 2022. This trend began with one capuchin, nicknamed “the Joker,” who was recorded taking several howler infants on his back. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, utilizing camera traps, observed that these capuchins are adept at using tools and have no terrestrial predators, allowing them to spend considerable time on the ground.
While the specific method of abduction remains unclear, it is believed that capuchins are forcibly separating howler infants from their mothers, likely in trees. Initially healthy, the infants suffer from malnutrition, as they depend on maternal milk, leading to a high mortality rate among those taken. Despite being large and capable of defending themselves, howler monkeys are slow, making them vulnerable to the quicker capuchins.
Experts theorize that the abductions are not motivated by a wish to harm the infants but stem from the capuchins’ curiosity and playful behavior. Social dynamics among male capuchins, who may be practicing social bonding for future group integration, could also contribute to this behavior. However, this unsettling trend poses a serious threat to the already endangered howler population on the island, with researchers expressing hope that it will be a temporary behavior rather than a lasting trend.
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