THINGS BAJAN: Bajan Green monkey

ALL ACROSS BARBADOS you will find this mischievous little creature, including in the gullies and even in people’s 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.

You may observe an infant monkey being carried by its mother, with the infant clinging to the mother’s fur on her stomach and chest and her protective arm around him.

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.

Source: www.barbados.org