The video shows a family of the Bonnet Macaque monkeys on their daily forage. Bonnet Macaques are quite attention grabbing because of their restless and naughty nature. Being a diurnal animal, they are active during day time and rest at night.

The Bonnet Monkeys are the most popular because of their proximity to human habitations. In such places they have no fear of man and most often end up as a great nuisance. They are very social and live in highly organized troops. They spend a lot of time licking and grooming each other. This activity has a great social function of cementing friendships and reinforcing relationships. The macaques are omnivorous and have cheek pouches in which they store food to be eaten later.

Commonly seen in South Asia, Bonnet Macaques are of the macaca genus. These Old World Monkeys belong to the species of macaca redata of Cercopithecidae family. It is a common factor of Kerala wildlife and serves as a rich asset of the Kerala fauna.

The main foods of this group of monkeys are fruits, nuts, seeds, flowers, invertebrates and cereals. An adult of this group normally has an average length of 35 to 60 centimetres with a tail length of 35 to 68 centimetres. The males weigh 5.5 to 9 kilograms, females 3.5 to 4.5 kilograms. Their life span is considered to be more than 30 years.

In Kerala Bonnet Macaques are seen in the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary of Thiruvananthapuram district, Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary of Kollam District, Silent Valley National Park and Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary of Palakkad District and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Periyar National Park of Idukki district.

Courtesy: http://birdwingtours.com/