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The Hungry Howler Monkey at St. Herman’s Blue Hole
By: Geovanni Martinez, Park Warden St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park
O n July 24 2008, around 10 in the morning while standing by the Blue Hole Area I heard a small noise as if though a cohune branch was falling. I looked around quickly but the cohunes near by seemed intact. Then I heard soft murmuring as if people were walking the trail, but I knew nobody was inside the park so I decided to check it out. I stood by an allspice tree and was checking out the Dusky Ant Bird Trail to see if someone was coming from the visitor center, but there was no one. Then all of a sudden I heard a noise right above me. I looked up and saw something black moving on the branches above. To my surprise it was a howler monkey! It was going towards the changing rooms, so I followed it.
Then it stopped by a Cecropia Tree (Trumpet tree) behind the bathrooms and started chewing on the young leaves. As i was observing the monkey having breakfast some tourists arrived. The monkey heard the noise from the car then it jumped from tree to tree into the thick forest where I couldn’t see it. The tourists carried on to the blue hole to take a swim, as they were coming down the steps they saw another monkey on the cojotone tree.
“The Howler Monkey is so named becuase you can hear the roaring in the early mornings and late afternoons. Howlers are herbivores (eat plants only) they eat flowers, tender leaves and fruits.”
After a while I began searching for the monkey again. I found him eating cocoa leaves by the Hummingbird Loop, this time he was not alone, he or she was with a friend! They both continued enjoying the fresh cocoa leaves. I felt so proud working at St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park helping to protect the home of these beautiful creatures so you and I can enjoy!
P.S In total there were three howler monkeys that day I took some pictures with my cellphone and examined it carfully. As I had guessed it, there was 1 male and 2 females.
Howler Monkey Facts
Black Howler Monkey- Alouatta pigra is also known as Baboon in Creole and Zaraguate in Spanish. The Howler Monkey is so named becuase you can hear the roaring in the early mornings and late afternoons. Howlers are herbivores (eat plants only) they eat flowers, tender leaves and fruits.