The Bale monkey[1], also called the Bale Mountain Vervet, is an endangered, forest-dwelling arboreal primate restricted to a small range in the southern highlands of Ethiopia,
- The bale monkey depends primarily on a single species of bamboo (Arundinaria Alpina) and favors a bamboo forest habitat.
- These African primates feature small round heads, and their bodies are covered with a layer of dark-brown fur.
- In addition, the abdomen, or lower region, of a male of this species is draped in blue fur.
- A unique physical feature of Bale Monkeys is that they have cheek pouches that can be filled with food to be consumed later.
Bale Monkey Facts
- They are the least known primates in Africa, having only been discovered in 1902.
- Bale Mountain vervet monkeys feed primarily on bamboo, usually African alpine bamboo.
- Their behavior towards humans is quite shy, and they tend to run away when someone encounters them.
- They are socially active creatures as they form a large group, usually male-dominated, and talk to each other through various calls.
- They are considered a group of endangered creatures according to the Red List of the IUCN. They owe this endangered status to hunting and habitat loss.
