Monkey Mayhem
By Polly Conway,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Monkeys' quirks explored in short, lively docu.
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Monkey Mayhem
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What's the Story?
Monkey Mayhem is a short documentary about monkeys in their natural habitats. It takes a look Monkeys and humans are very similar, down to social structure and community. They love mischief and just "hanging out." There are over 100 species of monkey in Africa, but not all of them live in the jungle. Grass-eating gelada monkeys live in the grasslands of Ethiopia. These monkeys are more likely to use their prehensile tails as an extra limb. Beyond the geladas, monkey facts abound: The loud howler monkeys use their voices to express dominance, while red-faced monkeys faces are reddest during their sexual prime. The Himalayan "langa" monkesy are extra furry (and extra cute) to keep warm in the icy mountain environment. African baboons best exemplify a human-like hierarchy, with power positions defined by female bloodlines.
Is It Any Good?
It's fun to watch the monkeys do their usual day-to-day activities, which often include lots of play, and there's really nothing better than watching monkeys do their thing. One monkey deftly juggles a Brazil nut, and we learn that all monkeys enjoy treats; India's bonnet macaques get to enjoy jackfruits In winter, while snow monkeys must adapt their diets to eat less appealing foods like pine needles and twigs. Some of the monkeys are a little scary looking, which makes this doc best for slightly older primate fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about wild animals. Why do you think it's important to learn about these animals that we may only see in zoos?
Chimpanzees are closest to humans, sharing 98.8 percent of our DNA. They use tools and medicine to improve their lives. What do you think makes us different? How does it feel to be so much the same?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: August 25, 2020
- Studio: Doclights
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Wild Animals
- Run time: 50 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: September 23, 2021
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