There are small monkeys at my local Zoo that are housed on an island in a large lake. But I was wondering, can they swim, in which case why don't they and escape, or if they can't swim, which is likely, what happens if one of them falls in?
(it's too far from the land area for someone to rescue the monkey quick enough).
The monkeys are always dangling over the edge close to the water so it's only a matter of time before one slips and I am worried! :)
2007-05-30 22:58:47 · 10 answers · asked by HC123 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
So if they can swim, why don't they swim to the edge and run away?! I would!
2007-05-30 23:11:02 · update #1
The majority of primates tend to stay away from water period, however there are a few species that not only will wade through water but enjoy swimming. Japanese Snows are an excellent example of a species that loves water, so are Proboscis Monkeys and Allens Swamps.
Overall though most tend to stay away because they are unable to swim. Even then though most cannot swim there are times where gorillas, bonobos, and other monkey species will wade through water they know is not too deep.
They have even recorded gorillas using sticks to test depth of rivers/streams as they work their way across.
As far as your question on if they fall in, as long as they are not too far out or it is too deep they are fine. I was once at a zoo and on a similar monkey island one of the males fell into the water when a branch he was on broke. Though he was in the water and unable to swim it was shallow enough the first few feet around the island that he was able to get back out. Our gibbon/siamang island is the same way. The few feet around the island is rather shallow allowing them to wade/play/drink or get out if they slip in then further out it drops and is deep to keep them on the island.
Do not be worried about them, great effort goes into to the design of an animal exhibit.... it is not as simple as one might think.
2007-05-31 04:54:24 · answer #1 · answered by The Cheshire 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Can Primates Swim
2016-12-18 15:25:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most small monkeys can swim. It's the great apes such as chimpanzees and gorillas that can't swim.
2007-05-30 23:07:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many species of monkey can swim, and swim well!!.
2015-02-23 02:05:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some Monkeys in Africa can swim very well, but others don't swim at all
2007-05-31 01:57:32 · answer #5 · answered by In love with Gerard! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well black people swim so probably.
2016-10-10 16:24:23 · answer #6 · answered by jordan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ya many spider monkeys swim.
2014-09-19 21:21:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anand T Rao 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes, they can swim and if any one of them falls in , will come outside towards the stream. they have a lot of caliber to swim and to jumping. ok, therefore please no need to worry.
2007-05-30 23:38:16 · answer #8 · answered by vikas 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES!
Look at this video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MyPrlMm72wo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cl08PEnwNYI
2007-05-30 23:07:08 · answer #9 · answered by Geeeyaaa 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not Really.....
2007-05-31 02:14:47 · answer #10 · answered by AVIAN 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋