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Lots of spider monkeys to photograph at AutoSafari Chapin, Ateles geoffroyi

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Spider Monkey, Ateles Geoffroyi

The spider monkeys at AutoSafari Chapin come in several colors, especially whitish and light greyish. I tend to consider the spider monkeys of Tikal as being black, with some white or gray on their stomach. So the lighter colored ones here at the zoo are not as familiar to me.

Brownish spider monkeys also can be seen in zoos. But it would be helpful to have zoological reports of spider monkeys in the wild in Chiapas, El Peten, and Belize to learn which range of colors are natural to spider monkeys of the heartland of the Lowland Classic Maya.

Ateles geoffroyi spider monkey AutoSafari Chapin Apr 28 2015 NH DSC6028

 

Spider monkeys can be studied at AutoSafari Chapin, Guatemala

Most of the spider monkeys at AutoSafari Chapin are not in cages. Instead they are on islands in ponds or lakes. This way the spider monkeys can wander around either on the ground or in the trees.

What is most amazing is to watch how the monkeys wade through the water! In theory, if the monkeys wished to, they could easily get off their island. But clearly they are content in their area, and they do not try to move elsewhere (a good sign that they feel relaxed where they are).

I usually use a 200mm macro NIKKOR lens on my Nikon D800E or a 180mm macro-telephoto lens on my Canon EOS 6D. This way I am not starting any stress in the monkey by getting to close. I would assume they are territorial. But I have found that it often helps to have a 300mm or 400mm lens. And if you want head-shots, a 500mm or 600mm lens would be even better.

Ateles geoffroyi spider monkey AutoSafari Chapin flash Oct11 2014 NH 9711

 
Ateles geoffroyi spider monkey AutoSafari Chapin flash Oct 11 2014 NH 9496

 

Auto Safari Chapin


To come as tourist, or research biologist, first place to start is their web site.

www.autosafarichapin.com


   

Posted late August 2015
after our umpteenth educational research visit to AutoSafari Chapin.


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