Diana Monkey

Did you know?
that this species is called "Diana monkey" because the distinctive white oblique stripe across the thigh is thought to resemble a bow, which was associated with Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt.

Photo Copyright by
Andrew Gray

Why do zoos keep this animal

The Diana monkey (Cercopithecus diana) is an endangered species and the eastern subspecies, the Roloway monkey (Cercopithecus diana roloway), is even classified as Critically Endangered. The main risks that all West African forest primates are facing are habitat destruction and commercial hunting with traps, snares and guns. Due to commercial logging and often uncontrolled deforestation roads and trails are cut deep into the rain forest. These are used by poachers to transport and dispense the "bushmeat" into larger and more distant towns.

These conditions have allowed the commercial "bushmeat" trade to increase dramatically, with several thousand tons sold on urban markets every year. Also other mammals such as duikers, pangolins and forest are affected by the "bushmeat problem". Ex situ breeding programmes established under an International Studbook (1988), which ensure the survival of the species at least in zoos combined with in-situ conservation activities in West Africa could prevent the extinction of the Diana monkey and other endangered primates.

The captive animals are also ambassadors for their species and present the "bushmeat problem" in West Africa to the public. Further information: www.wapca.org

How this animal should be kept

The Diana monkey is an agile arboreal species which could easily escape from enclosures that aren't completely grated. Juveniles are sometimes small enough to escape through the grating, but they always return to their mothers. It is possible to keep Diana monkeys on islands surrounded by a large moat, but there is the danger of getting drowned.

So the best way to keep them is in large bright cages equipped with branches, ropes and other installations for climbing. The separation towards the visitor should be made of glass to prevent infections and feeding. As they live in tropical forests Diana monkeys need a well heated indoor enclosure during the winter. The enclosure has to be cleaned regularly and according to this the floor should be made of concrete or other materials that can be cleaned easily. But it can be covered with hay, sawdust or bark mulch as a behavioural enrichment. Substantial balls also provide them the opportunity to play.

The keepers always have to be careful in handling the animals as they are easily irritable and often attack without warning. Diana monkeys are fed mostly with fruits and vegetables, e.g. apples, citrus fruits, bananas, carrots, salad. The food has to be carefully cleaned as especially citrus fruits are contaminated with plant protective. Rotten parts have to be removed and the food should be given cut up in small pieces to guaranty that most of the food will be eaten.

Diana monkeys are social animals, so they should be kept in pairs or groups, but under zoo conditions groups are often unsociable and only families or animals which have grown up together can be kept together. Under good conditions Diana monkeys can get more than 20 years old. The oldest known specimen reached 31 years.