Diana Monkey

Diana monkeys are diurnal and highly arboreal, spending most of their time in the upper and middle forest canopy. Unlike similar species, they move on all fours rather than leaping, rarely descending to the ground due to predators. Nearly half their day is spent foraging, with much of the rest spent travelling through the trees.

Highly vocal with a complex range of calls, diana monkeys produce distinct sounds for different predators like eagles, leopards and chimpanzees. Remarkably, other animals can recognise and respond to these calls, creating a shared warning system across species in the forest.

While infants are born in a well-developed condition, with their eyes open and with the ability to grasp onto their mothers, they remain close to their mothers, riding on their backs and nursing for six months. As they grow, they become energetic and playful, often tugging and bounding around their mothers.