Ever wondered why monkeys love bananas? Forget the innuendos in movies and television stereotypes where primates are always scrambling for the yellow fruit.
Even in the wild, monkeys are in love with the Musa fruit. One may get the impression they only feed on bananas and nothing else.
But why?
1. Monkeys Love Bananas Because they are Greedy
This is probably not a cute reason to start with, but yes, monkeys are greedy, and for a good reason.
These primates are on the lookout for bananas because they are easy to chew and swallow. Bananas are typically soft, and easy to swallow.
Monkeys live in fear of other primates grabbing their meal because their peers do not always have the courtesy to request a bite.
It is common for monkeys to always grab whatever their eyes see, even it is in the hand of other primates. They are always sneaking around waiting for a loose end of a banana! Unless of course, it is the baby monkey that needs to be fed.
The very greedy ones will even eat bananas without removing the peels. Talk about having your cake and eating it too.
If you have also been keen on their eating habits, you will also notice how monkeys are in a hurry to eat and are on the lookout for uninvited guests.
2. Bananas are Great for Glucose
Monkeys are busy primates and on a normal day, will cover great distances in the hunt for food, while flinging from tree to tree, and fighting each other. Sometimes they have to run away from predators such as lions and humans.
These take a toll on their energy levels, and just like humans, are looking for meals that replenish lost glucose. Their brains, muscles, and hearts need additional energy to continue working.
In addition, they will use considerable energy to coo, hoot, and grunt all day. They will therefore need a bite here and there whenever they get to sit down.
Bananas are rich in relevant sugars necessary to replace the lost energy and are fantastic for boosting memory and mood, all of which are important for the hectic life inside the jungle.
3. The yellow banana is a ‘superfood’
Yes, monkeys too need nutritious meals in order to stay healthy and active.
The daily hustles that monkeys go through demand that they charge up their bodies with the right nutrients in order to keep up to speed. The yellow fruit is the monkey’s electrolyte booster and a substitute for energy drinks to keep them alert and running all day.
Bananas are also known to ease digestion and are good sources of vitamin B6. This is very important for the brain, nervous system, and immune system.
Finally, bananas are can help remove extra sodium from the body, a function the same food does to humans as well. This allows the body to relax the blood vessel walls, in order to control blood pressure.
4. Monkeys Have Taste Buds
Yes, monkeys too have a sense of taste and want to explore whatever good is in the offering. They are omnivorous and just like humans will enjoy a vast variety of foods.
Fruits happen to be top of the list much as they will eat just anything. These may include cabbages, seeds, and insects. Sometimes they will try out tree barks and twigs when the going gets tough!
Bananas happen to be a special treat because of the sweet taste and the aromatic flavor, ingredients that are absent in many other fruits.
A Word of Caution
As much as monkeys love bananas it is also true bananas do not usually grow naturally in the wild, which is the habitat for monkeys. This makes the fruit kind of foreign to them and should be served sparingly.
Chimpanzees and gorillas develop diabetes and other health complications when fed too many bananas!
Also true, the bananas grown in our farms are by-products of manipulation in the labs and therefore contaminated with unpleasant suplements. Avoid flinging too many hybrid bananas in zoos and other parks!
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