Yucatan Black Howler Monkey

(Alouatta pigra)

Spanish: Saraguato. Belizean Creole: Baboon

The Yucatan Black Howler Monkey, known as the “baboon” in Belize, is the largest monkey in Belize and one of the largest in the Americas. Their population declined dramatically due to an outbreak of Yellow Fever in the 1950’s. Deforestation, hunting, and the illegal pet trade have impacted the species’ recovery, but their population has rebounded well in Belize.

Howler monkeys live in troops of between 4 and 12 members; though as many as 16 have been recorded. Each troop has its own territory in which it feeds and lives. The size of the territory depends on the size of the troop, ranging from 3 to 25 hectares. Male howlers defend this territory from other troops through the use of their voices. Their howl is one of the loudest animal sounds in the world, and can carry over several miles.

Howler monkeys are folivores, feeding almost exclusively on leaves, and some fruit and flowers. They spend the majority of their day eating and sleeping, especially since leaves are a low calorie food source.

Fun Facts

• Male howlers have a enlarge hyoid bone which amplifies their voices; males have much larger throat pouches than females
• A portion of their tail near the tip has no fur, and has thicker skin to help with grasping
• Unlike Spider Monkeys, howlers tend to move on all fours, using both their hands and feet, and often their tails
• Howler Monkeys each have unique hand, foot, and tail prints; they’re like a human fingerprint!

Belize Zoo Trivia

• Male howlers howl to establish territory and to respond to threats; they do not howl just to say hello! Due to this, teasing and “howling” at our howlers is not permitted, as it causes them severe stress.

Conservation Efforts

The Community Baboon Sanctuary is a grassroots, community based conservation program in the Belize River Valley. Residents of the 7 communities in this area pledged to protect a section of their lands that near the Belize River in 1985 in order to promote population recovery of Belize’s howler monkeys. CBS is now a world renowned success story, boasting a population of over 3,500 howlers.