Monkeys on a remote Panamanian island have been observed kidnapping and carrying infant howler monkeys around for days, raising questions about the motivations behind this unusual behavior. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior documented 11 instances of young male capuchin monkeys abducting howler monkey babies between January 2022 and July 2023.
The trend appears to have started with a single individual, Joker, who was nicknamed due to a small scar on his mouth. Other juvenile capuchins soon imitated him, carrying the infants around for extended periods. While it is unclear whether the monkeys intend to harm the babies, experts believe that they may be driven by boredom or social status.
Previous observations have shown that capuchin monkeys are known to behave aggressively and destructively towards other species. In Costa Rica, researchers witnessed a group of capuchins torturing coati pups before eating them alive. Similarly, in Panama, scientists observed capuchins tossing around a baby kinkajou like a ball.
Despite the disturbing nature of this behavior, experts see it as a form of cultural innovation. The capuchin monkeys on Jicarón island have no predators to fear and ample food, which may contribute to their lack of aggression towards other species. However, further research is needed to determine whether boredom or social status plays a role in the kidnapping behavior.
The study authors suggest that the behavior may be linked to Joker’s social status within his troop. If he was an outcast, it could explain why the others are copying him. Understanding the motivations behind this unusual behavior will require additional camera footage and further research into the capuchin monkeys’ behavior on Jicarón island.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/science/capuchin-monkeys-kidnapping-abduction.html