Close encounter with Mona Monkeys

We've just returned from a Caribbean cruise - one of the islands that we visited was Grenada. While on a hiking trail one day, we got friendly with a group of Mona Monkeys living in the trees there - they developed an interest in photography. In fact - they developed an interest to such an extent one actually tried to take a photo!

Hi Guys - just lounging in my tree - nice of you to drop by



oooh is that a camera - want a picture??



That looks like a Nikon D90 to me



It is a D90 (actually he was watching the iris open and close in the lens and DH pressing the shutter button)



Hey....guys....come and have a look at this



Can I have a go???



Yep....that iris definitely opened and closed when you pressed that button



Do it again



Immediately after this, he kept looking at the iris while one of his hands felt along the top of the camera to see if he could find the button DH was pressing (he didn't find it).

I didn't get a shot of that as I was busy jumping out of the way of his friend who was trying to pee on me from the top of the tree

Thank you to all who replied and looked at the photos - it's nice to be able to share such a lovely memory with you.

They really are smart!

The extreme close-ups were not quite as extreme as you might imagine. I had a wide angle lens on the camera (12-24mm for those that it means something to) and this meant that the monkeys appeared a little further away. Sometimes they were so close that they were unfocused.

His friend certainly thought it was funny - seems they have a twisted sense of humour too!

You're so right Nat, it truly was one of the highlights of the cruise. It made it well worth walking beyond the tourist hang out of the place selling rum punch and trinkets.

Haha! Phew! glad to hear the monkey was ok The monkey did try having a taste of the lens as well - it did have a filter over the top of the lens so there was not much damage that he could do.

I always seem to attract the random peeing person/creature - think they're trying to tell me something! On a visit to San Francisco a woman (who seemed infamous to the locals) got on our bus and, after trying to "interview" us (with a walkman type tape recorder) managed to pee on my leg.

Thankfully with the monkeys, a few Americans from our ship had happened upon us with the monkeys and we had drawn a little crowd - they were able to warn me to jump out of the way just in time.

It really was amazing to watch the monkey mentally processing what was happening. There was no doubt that he was trying to figure out what he needed to do. Given a little more time, I feel sure he would have been able to take a shot.

You're so right - you could see them processing the information. How I'd have loved to spend more time with them.

I think both me and the rest of the passengers were glad I dodged the monkey pee - two hours stuck in a humid 23 seater bus with me stinking of monkey pee wouldn't have been their first choice I'm sure

Hi Fran Nice to hear from you again. Glad I was able to bring a smile to your day