The Mandrill monkey that you see in the Lion King movie is the most colorful and largest animal belonging to the monkey species.
The locals call this monkey Monyet Dukun, which has unique features compared to all other monkey species. The colorful monkey can sometimes be assumed to be wearing makeup.
Mandrill monkeys are famous for their unique features, such as the red-striped nose with blue-colored bumps on either side.
These monkey species have a life span of 31 years and are omnivorous animals. They feed on leaves, fruits, invertebrate animals, snails, spiders, and scorpions.
The Habitat
You can see them in Bali Safari Park enjoying their time in the tree trunks or on the nearby rocks. They enjoy spending their time on the trees because they can get food whenever needed.
With a height of 81 cm and a weight of 40 kg, they can easily navigate from one tree to another. They are the largest monkey species and have fangs of 7 cm. These teeth serve as their protection against any attack.
Watching them in Africa
The mandrills are very shy-natured mammals and prefer staying away from the watchful eyes. They enjoy habitats like the gallery forest and the rainforest in equatorial Africa.
You can identify male species from the distinctive colored red, blue, and yellow rumps on their faces. These marks will be brightened when the mating season is at its peak.
These monkeys are found in the group of more than 600 animals. The group consists of many males, females, and the little ones.
The groups can sometimes even consist of 200 monkeys. They rarely stay alone or with one or two animals, as they prefer staying with many animals of their species.
The familiar places to see them in Africa are the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo and other areas such as Gabon, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea.
This national park is ancient and has many species of monkeys and other animals. The locals’ gradual expansion of the agricultural land has reduced their natural space.
Hence, national parks have become the only place people can enjoy their habitat.
The Appearance
The African mandrills are known for their distinct facial features, such as colorful cheeks, ridged noses, and yellow beards.
Compared to females, men have brighter colors, while females have dull colors on their face. They stay active during the daytime and enjoy playing with the young ones in the group.
When in an attack, they use unique ways of alerting others about it. They convey the message through facial expressions, vocalizations, and body postures.
According to the local African conservation societies, mandrill are listed as a species in the VULNERABLE state, targeted for bushmeat.
The Tour
When on an Africa Mandrill Safari Tour, your team will be provided a guide to help you enjoy the experience. These colorful and active monkeys are a sight to behold.
It is a pleasure to see them enjoy in their natural habitat. Since they are shy-natured, you might sometimes miss them or have to wait to watch them.
