Living immersed in Costa Rica’s tropical dry forest, I cherished my time with the howler monkeys. I was as curious about the howlers as they were about me! They often slept in the canopy above the roof of my studio. Some mornings they slipped away with stealth-like silence; many mornings they announced the arrival of the sun with their unique roars, then settled into a quiet contentment. Every so often they continued to roar until I came outside and greeted them in three languages: “Buenos dias! Good morning! Umf, umph, umf, umph, umf!”
At times they shadowed me from their treetop vantage point like devoted watch dogs and monitored my every move. Often I would look up to see a cluster of monkeys draped over the limbs and gawking down at me! I often gawked up at them as well, and we shared a curious appreciation of each other!
I sometimes called out to them, “I am going back to the house now! See you in thirty minutes!”
Almost always with an unhurried attitude, they followed me!
He sails through the air with the greatest of ease! (Costa Rica Howler Monkey)
Once while working on a painting, I heard an unusual crashing sound. I paused then thought, “MONKEY! A monkey fell from a tree!”
Bolting to the nearest window, I peered out to see a monkey slowly climbing up a small sapling. He then crossed to a larger tree and climbed just high enough to rest. For half an hour he clung tight to the tree, then slowly worked his way back to the others.
“Who Taught Her Our Secret Language?” Curious Howler Monkey
“Will You Teach Me To Speak English?” Cultural Exchange – Costa Rica
Over the years, I learned the nuances of their communication. To the adult howler’s shock, I could coax the young ones to within several feet of my reach. The adults often coaxed them back with panicked retorts!
I am grateful to have had a cultural immersion in the land of the howlers; when away from the tropical dry forest, I miss the howlers!
For more images of wildlife, see this week’s Wild Weekly Photo Challenge. Tip on over there and participate in the people’s choice voting. or belly up to the bar and join us with your own nature photos!
Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
This is a beautiful post. It is so wonderful to have this connection with the monkeys. Wonderful photos.
The troop that watched over me was truly special; they announced any newcomer with distasteful roars or warning! I witnessed much more intelligence than most credit to the howlers, and I am grateful for my time spent in their company!
what a wonderful tribute to our nearest animal relatives, Lisa!
thanks; they are more intelligent than we give them credit, and they certainly seem to be more peaceful than our species! perhaps we should roar each morning when awakening and expel any stress for the day, and release it again at the end of each day!
z
How beautiful they are – with their deep brown coats and huge eyes. Such a contrast to ‘my’ Hanuman troupe, who aren’t interested in us humans at all – in fact they don’t like us, or trust us and stay clear as much as their need for food allows.
A perfect entry for a Wild entry Lisa.
Reflecting on how howlers release their morning and evening howls and wondering if they release their stress as well, makes me ponder if your hanumans have evolved past that and are now so bored and disgusted with our species that they’ve washed their hands of us! i would not trust us either!
thanks so much for your feedback,
z
I love monkeys! Thank you for this vivid and insightful post! Linda
yes, monkeys seem to bring out our whimsical side; we look at them and smile and ponder our relationship with them!
thanks, linda!
z
Wow! Ive never seen howler monkeys! I read that their ‘roar’ is quite shrill and can be heard 2 miles away!
yes, their roar is very loud. when hearing the roar for the first time, many people ask, ‘what in the world is that?’ – how surprised they are when they see that the howlers are not the size of king kong!
Love this post.. i always wanted to pal around with Jane Goodall for a day!!
wouldn’t that be an amazing experience? she has touched many lives with her work. z
What a fun and interesting post.! Thanks, Lisa. For a little taste of exotic. 🙂
you are so very welcome, sweet gemma! gemma is the name of a friend of mine here in ecuador, and she has an ever-present smile on her face and has an amazing sense of humor. i will have to show her your posts one of these days, but i rarely see her unless we pass on the street. she is a high=school teacher and has a very full life!
z
If I ever make it to your neck of the woods I would love to visit these guys, oh and you too! 🙂 How cool are they? Love the photos and the post Z!
thanks so much, and i am sure that i could teach you ‘monkey lengue 101’pretty fast. a few of my friends have been with me when monkeys passed overhead in the canopy, and they/my friends, were able to mimic the sounds well. what we are saying, i have no clue, but it must be something they trust!
Fun blog! As I have said, you lead a most interesting life. Say “hi” to the howlers for me next time you visit with them!
i will be sure to do that!!! z
We were enthralled with the howler monkeys when we visited Costa Rica. Thanks for the lovely photos and the great memories. Would love to get back to this beautiful country again someday.
Costa Rica is indeed a stunning country worth repeat visits; the howlers add so much to the experience! Your path will surely take you back to CR!
Thanks for your feedback!
Lisa/z
I love your three language greeting each morning. I speak to the egrets and herons like you do the monkeys. However, monkeys put on a much more interesting show. I know you miss those encounters.
i’m not surprised that you and i share that trait of talking to wildlife as if we were talking to a best friend!
So amazing. What big eyes they have. 🙂
Those monkeys are almost human. Do they ever come into the house? I can imagine Mother monkey’s panic when you get the babies to come to you… Lovely photos
hey over there! no, the howler monkeys rarely leave the security of the canopy of the treetops. at times they will cross short distances by land when there are no trees to bridge between wooded areas. they also cross via power lines, so of course there are times when one is electrocuted. they are happiest in the treetops!
Oh very sad about the electrocutions
welcome back from your travels z.
We’ve seen howler monkeys in Costa RIca. Their call is very weird isn’t it? We weren’t there long enough to be able to chat to them, or to recognize the sound of one falling- poor little chap! Great photos 🙂
thank you rosie! yes, those howlers can belt out a roar when disturbed, when at ease, they have many sounds that are quiet and calming.
thanks for your comment!
lisa
What a delight – the monkeys of course, but also your ability to learn their language. I speak a little mallard duck, myself. After all these years on the docks, I’m good enough to be able to reunite the inevitable, lost duckling with its mama. It takes a little time,but it can be done.
Listening to the world speak is as important as listening to one another. If we can manage to cross the communication gap with howler monkeys – even a little – perhaps we can do the same with one another!
So very true. We tend to tune out instead of tune in, We’re rapt to study details in the elusive animals but often forget to appreciate our fellow man!
I am glad that the local ducklings have a surrogate madre to coddle the lost ones! I’d like to watch you do that!
Z
Lovely post! The Howler does look confounded. 🙂
ha! sometimes they really look as if they’re thinking, ‘how did she learn to speak our language?’ Z
You live in paradise my friend. Every turn , a beautiful and fun surprise awaits. Love the monkey pictures and adventure. A cultural awakening of a world most of us may never see in person. Thanks.
you and your family will surely et to glimpse sea turtles and howler monkeys one of these days! i realize that i am very lucky to live and experience the unique culture in latin america. when i was younger, i lived in the usa and had a full life. long ago i would put in 100 hour weeks in the summertime, so i understand where you are in life.
z
They really are much like us – or rather the reverse…Refreshing, funny and beautiful! It’s a pity they don’t come with their voices too!
wouldn’t that be amazing if they could articulate their thoughts, and we could understand them? how fun!
thanks so much!
lisa
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Congratulations my dear friend! I love the photo that was chosen for the Editors Choice Award! Hugs and keep it going!
muchas gracias! there were so many great entries, i really did not expect to place. i was truly shocked. congratulations on yours as well! all of your images were great ones!
sunsets.. hmmm, i happen to have about fifty of those! i suspect i can find a few for this next week’s challenge. ditto for you!
z
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Congratulations again :-0
thank you dear friend!
z
Thank you for your kind words and congratulations to you also, amazing images. I would love to visit that part of the world, I imagine it would be incredibly interesting. Jen 🙂
you are so very welcome.
yes, this is a special area, though your area is special as well. a photographer, artist/creative person sees beauty everywhere!\z
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Fabulous shots!