Howler Monkeys
Some of the most visible – and audible – wildlife here in Costa Rica are the howler monkeys. They travel through the trees, and their “howl” is far deeper and louder than their appearance suggests – sort of a cross between a growl and a moan. They tend to howl when they feel threatened or are unhappy, and one of the things that seems to make them unhappy is rain, which means they howl a lot. When several howl in unison, the sound can be pretty creepy – like something out of a horror movie.
The other day, we watched five monkeys devour the leaves of a papaya tree across the road from our apartment. We stood and took pictures for about 15 minutes, while they clambered around and ate as if they’d been starved for weeks. Babies clung to two of them, their little tails wrapped around their mothers’.
One monkey sat holding on to a long stem that looked for all the world like a huge piece of celery, and chomped on it while staring back at us. Makes you wonder what they think of us, with our squeals of delight at seeing the babies and our cameras recording something so banal as lunch.
2 comments
Permalink1
I have been receiving your
French about.com e-mails for years and just completed my French minor at university. Thanks
for a great site!
I was just wondering what part of Costa Rica you plan to spend the
most time. I was there for 4 months studying tropical Ecology in 2005, so I definitely have
some suggestions of places not to miss and still have lots of friends there and wonderful,
welcoming people. Have a great time!
Pura vida!
Tiffany
Permalink2
My wife and I spent 3 months
in Paris earlier this year, where I began my French studies….Loved it!! That’s where I found
your site.
We then spent 2 months in Costa Rica (where I continued my French studies
with Alliance Francaise) and drove all over the Guanacaste area. This was our third visit to
Costa Rica. We found that although a beautiful country and great people, not enough action for
us to consider moving there. Some of the things you describe in your blog, although charming at
first, over time they really become annoying. The roads, the infrastructure, the lack of “stuff
to do” (after all walking along the beach is great, so is just hanging out and reading,
writing, thinking….but after 2 months of that, then what?)
Costa Rica is for us a
beautiful place to visit but still very provincial. Next year we will return to France for me
to continue my language studies and will rely on your website. Thank you!