Barbados Green Monkeys
All across Barbados you will find this michevious little creatures including in the gullies that run across the island and even in peoples gardens!
The green monkeys found in Barbados originally came from Senegal and the Gambia in West Africa approximately 350 years ago. About 75 generations have occurred since these monkeys arrived in Barbados and, as a result of environmental differences and evolution, the Barbados monkeys today have different characteristics than those in West Africa.
The monkeys are found mainly in the parishes of St.John, St.Joseph, St.Andrew and St.Thomas, where much natural vegetation and woodlands still exist. However, monkeys can also be seen traveling through hotel grounds in St.Peter and St.James.
You may observe an infant monkey being carried by its mother, with the infant clinging to the mothers fur on her stomach and chest and her protective arm around him. As the infant matures and becomes more independent, he will stray from his mother, being carried only when the troop moves or when danger threatens.
Infants often appear blue in colour, as they have little fur when they are born. However, as they mature, they develop a thick fur that is brownish-grey in colour with specks of yellow and olive green. In some lights, the fur has an overall green appearance ... hence the name the "Green Monkey".
Welchman Hall Gully and Barbados Wildlife Reserve have monkey feeding programmes which are popular for viewing monkeys close-up. You can visit these sites or join an island tour that includes a stop there.
Barbados Monkey Tours
What People Typically Ask
Does Barbados have monkeys?
Yes, Barbados is home to a very large population of green monkeys - estimated to be several thousand in number.
What type of monkeys are there in Barbados?
There is only one type of monkey in Barbados - the green monkey.
The green monkey was introduced into Barbados from Senegal and the Gambia in West Africa over 350 years ago.
It is possible that prior to this, monkeys from South America were brought to the island however only the green monkey is currently found on the island.
Why are they called green monkeys?
While the overall appearance of these monkeys appears 'green', the coat of this species of monkey is actually a brownish-grey in colour with specks of olive green and yellow.
