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Today’s picture of the day is the Yucatan Black Howler Monkey and its scientific name is Alouatta pigra. This specie loves evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, remnant forest along rivers, and tall second growth. It is common throughout Belize, parts of Mexico and Guatemala, unlike its relative the Mantled Howler Monkey – Alouata palliate – a little smaller specie which occurs mainly in Costa Rica.

Even though it’s a common specie, at the present moment it’s mostly found in protected areas since their population is declining due to deforestation, hunting, and disease( periodic epidemics of yellow fever reducing the population).

The one photographed above is part of a tribe that currently lives in Chaa Creek’s 365 acre private nature reserve, in 1996 they were relocated here from Scotland Half Moon Village and successfully reintegrated since they are natives to the area. Yellow fever had reduced their population in the surrounding area.

Fun fact of the Day:

In Belize, the Yucatan Black Howler Monkey is locally called “Baboon“ but it’s not a correct terminology since Baboons are African and Arabian old world monkeys. Belize even has a Howler Monkey protected area called the Bermudian Landing Community Baboon Sanctuary.

Submitted by Naturalist Guide: Hilberto Tut

Tags: belize baboon, belize baboon sanctuary, Belize Photo, Belize Photo of the Day: Yucatan Black Howler Monkey, Bermuda Landing baboon sanctuary, howler monkey in belize