As you travel on your journey through Belize, you will have plenty of opportunities to come in contact with the unique howler monkey. The Black Howler Monkey, Alouatta pigra, is known as the "baboon" in Belize, and it is the largest monkey in Belize and one of the largest in the Americas. Howler monkeys belong to the family Cebidae, and there are at least six different species. They are the noisiest animal in the Belize jungle, and they can be heard up to a mile away.
Howler Monkey in the rainforest canopy
The howler monkey is about 2–3 feet in length and weighs about 15 pounds. They live in Central and South American rainforests. The canopy layer of the forest is their home, although you will see them spend time on the ground as well. Their diet consists mainly of fruits and nuts. However, jaguars, other large mammals, and large snakes have howler monkeys as part of their diet, so the monkeys spend their day trying to stay out of those animals' paths. The monkeys love to irritate jaguars from high up in the canopy. They will sometimes throw sticks and branches at the jaguar below.
Howler monkeys "wake up" the rainforest in the morning and sing it to sleep at night. Sometimes they "howl" just before it rains. They live in troops of 4–10 or more members, depending on the species. Each troop has its own territory in which it feeds and lives. The size of the territory depends on the size of the troop, ranging from 3 to 25 acres. The female will give birth to one young at a time. Twins are possible, but very rare. Howlers are good swimmers, have excellent vision, and can see up to one-half a mile. They have a long tai,l and their colors can vary from reddish to brownish to blackish. The howler monkey's life span is about 20 years. The biggest threat to their lives is loss of habitat and poaching.
The howler monkey is one of the most iconic primates you’ll find in Central America.
Appearance and Color
The Belize howler monkey population is mostly the black howler monkey. They have thick, dark fur—usually black in males, while females and juveniles are often brownish. Their large throats and hyoid bones help produce their powerful calls.
Howler monkey and baby
Diet
Like many monkeys in Belize, they are primarily folivores, meaning they eat leaves. They also consume fruits, flowers, and occasionally nuts, but leaves make up the majority of their diet. This leafy diet is why they tend to be less active than other primates.
Sleeping Habits
A typical howler monkey sleeps up to 15 hours a day. They are most vocal at dawn and dusk, using their calls to mark territory. During the hottest part of the day, they usually rest high in the trees.
Population and Protection
The Belize monkeys population is mainly represented by the black howler monkey. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), black howler monkeys are listed as “Least Concern” globally, though local populations face threats from deforestation. In Belize, conservation efforts like the Community Baboon Sanctuary have helped boost their numbers. The sanctuary recorded over 2,000 howler monkeys in the mid-1990s, and recent monitoring by conservation groups suggests the population has remained stable, with healthy growth in protected areas.
