Social networks are just as important to monkeys as they are to us. Our monkeys live in
groups of around 20-30 individuals, and although they often fight amongst themselves, being part of
a group has a lot of advantages for them: they get more protection from predators, they are better
able to defend their territory with backup, and they can make use of the information that other
individuals have, for example, about where to find the best food.

Grooming is an important behaviour for monkeys – in addition to keeping them free of dirt and
parasites and even reducing stress, it is thought to be one way in which monkeys maintain their
social bonds with each other.

Til next time!
The Verveteers