Costa Rica is home to around 30,000 howler monkeys (also known as congos by natives). These monkeys live in both lowland and mountain habitats. They are known for the loud "yells" or "howls" that they use to communicate with each other. Their howls can carry as far as three miles through the dense rainforests. Howler monkeys spend most of their time resting in trees. Doesn't sound too bad of a life to me!
Howler monkeys are small primates, typically about 3 feet tall and weighing up to 22 pounds. They have long tails as well (up to three feet long) which they use to grip and hang themselves from branches. Howler monkeys have beards and long thick hair that's typically black, but can range from brown to red to blond. They also have large necks and a pronounced lower jaw, which they use to make their loud howls.
I saw howler monkeys for the first during a tour of a coffee farm here in Cabeceras. There were 10-15 howler monkeys hanging out in a tree together. I was in awe when I saw them! I remember seeing a baby howler monkey clinging to the back of its mother as she moved from branch to branch. I tried to get close to the tree to take some pictures, but then the monkeys started peeing, which showed they clearly didn't want me close to them.
