Red-capped mangabey

Appearance

Their name already gives it away: the top of the red-capped mangabey head is coloured red. You can further recognize them by their snow white eyelids, that stand out against their black face. This is why they’re also referred to as “the primate with four eyes”. Red-capped mangabeys also have a light grey fur and a very long tail with a white tuft at the end. 

Habitat

Red-capped mangabeys live in West- and Central Africa. To be more specific, in Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon. Here they live in rain-, swamp- and mangrove forests. 

Lifestyle 

Red-capped mangabeys live in groups of about 10 to 20 individuals. Only one adult male is the leader. There is a clearly defined hierarchy between both the males and the females. The red-capped mangabeys impress each other in these groups by continuously blink their eyelids. 

Behaviour

In the wild a group of red-capped mangabeys often splits up to look for food. At the end of the day, they re-join. This is called a “fission-fusion” group setting. During the day, red-capped mangabeys still remain in contact through the use of sound.

Reproduction

Females are fertile when they’re about three years old. This is clearly visible for the men: the females grow quite a big, pink swelling when this time occurs. When a female is pregnant, a child is born after around 5,5 months of gestation. The sons leave the group when they  are approximately 3 years old. The daughters continue to stay in the same natal group, while these males venture out to join another one. Here they need to rearrange their own spot within the hierarchy.  

Situation in the wild 

Red-bellied mangabeys are endangered in the wild. Their habitat is disappearing quickly due to deforestation. Aside from this, red-capped mangabeys are also being hunted. Luckily there are multiple national parks where they still live. 

At Apenheul

The red-capped mangabeys inhabit Apenheul since 2016. We started with a group of just four individuals. Since then, all females have given birth to at least one young. To prevent incest, multiple adult males have been moved to a different zoo. 

Population management programme 

Apenheul is part of the European endangered species programme (EEP) for red-capped mangabeys. By working together with other zoos we ensure a genetically healthy and demographically stable population of this species is maintained in zoos.

Fun facts

• Red-capped mangabeys make good use of their eyes whenever they want to impress each other: they blink repeatedly with their very white eyelids. Quite a striking sight to see!
• Red-capped mangabeys have large cheek pouches. Great to store food, which they can eat later when the time allows it!