De Brazza’s monkeys live along rivers in forest habitats in Central Africa, from Cameroon to Ethiopia, and Kenya to Angola. They are primarily herbivores.
This monkey is named for Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, an Italian explorer originally named Pietro Savorgnan di Brazza. He lived from 1852 to 1905 and founded a city that is named for him: Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo.
De Brazza’s monkey behavior and facts
- De Brazza’s monkeys forage in the early morning and evening; they hand-gather fruit, buds, young leaves, flowers and catch lizards.
- They are arboreal, dwelling in the tree canopy, and prefer dense vegetation near rivers. They live in lowland and submontane tropical moist forest, swamp forest, semi-deciduous forest and Acacia forest.
- Humans, other primates, African eagles and leopards are predators. De Brazza’s monkeys freeze as a defense mechanism.
- These monkeys are territorial and live in small groups. Daughters may stay with mothers their entire lives. Males leave when they are sexually mature.
- Breeding interval: slow
- Gestation: 5 to 6 months
- Female gives birth at night to 1 young; twins are rare.
- Infants are furred, with their eyes open; they immediately cling to their mother’s belly.
- Sexual maturity: 5 to 6 years
- Lifespan: unknown
Vital statistics
- Length: 16 to 25 inches
- Weight: males, 11.5 pounds; females 9.25 pounds
Status
- CITES App II, 1975
- Ethiopia protected from hunting/trapping
- Threats: animal trade (African pet), habitat destruction, range fragmentation, cultivation, especially Ethiopia (coffee plantations)
De Brazza’s monkeys, the Oregon Zoo and you
These monkeys live in the Africa Savanna exhibit, where they eat monkey chow, fruit and vegetables. They are common and widespread across their range, though hunting and habitat loss have caused declines in parts of their traditional habitat.
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