News Animals

Juvenile capuchins are kidnapping infants of another monkey species

Among primates, spending time with infants from another species is very rare

an image of a capuchin monkey

Capuchins are highly intelligent primates with a penchant for quirky behavior. Their latest gaff? Kidnapping endangered infant howlers.

Niki Harry/Getty Images

By Freda Kreier

There’s a serious case of stranger danger unfolding on an island off the coast of Panama.

A gang of five juvenile capuchin monkeys living on Jicarón Island has started abducting baby howler monkeys, researchers report May 19 in Current Biology. This bizarre fad, which has no clear purpose, is often deadly for abductees.