I found this pair on the shores of a river leading into Lake Nicaragua. Golden Mantles are named for the long golden hairs on their backs and shoulders. They are the largest Central American monkey and are critical seed dispersers and germinators.
I stood very still,
and shot them for quite awhile.
They both eventually became curious,
and walked down the tree branches directly towards me!
They hooted gently, causing me to back up!
I wasn’t sure at first if it was safe for them to get this close.
My cowardice seemed to disappoint them, and they went back up the tree, and about their business, ignoring me.
Cheers to you from Nicaragua’s friendly Golden Mantles~
The baby is so cute! They have such long tails! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you more for appreciating the 🙈🙈
Beautiful photos! 🙂 I think I would have backed up as well!
I wasn’t sure about their motivations, but I think now they were just curious 🙈
Just curious is my guess too, but there is much to be said for erring on the side of caution if one does not have specific knowledge of how a critter shows alarm or annoyance. U got great shots anyway.
That is exactly my policy. I don’t want to be responsible for getting a wild animal or myself in trouble.
What a wonderful close encounter!
It was special 🙈
Adorable Cindy 😊
They look at you with such intelligence.
Thank you for sharing the photos, amazing 😊
<3 <3
Your photographs are enchanting.
Awww, so are yours!
You had some great looks at them or it. The baby is adorable!
Baby animals in the wild are so special to see 🙈
Backing up was a good idea. They probably only wanted to make your acquaintance up close and personal. But you wisely defined your space. Great photography as always and my armchair is close enough.
Thank you Dor & yep. Better safe than sorry.
Interesting how they reacted when they approached you. You got some good photos Cindy.
Leslie xoxo
Thanks my friend. They were not at all scared of me.
I would have been wary of them too. They are still a wild animal and they have teeth and can bite you.
Oh Cindy, this has to be one of your best series of wildlife! What a treat to be rewarded by their attention and lack of fear for so long!
Wildlife encounters are an absolute thrill for me. I am sending prayers to you and Marion <3
Thaey look a lot like Woolies. We had one as a pet when my first son was one or two years old.
What is a woolie?
A kind of monkey from S. America. Looks a lot like the ones you photoed
Fabulous! You’re such a talented photographer.
Awww, so kind & so appreciated 🙈
Mother and child – iconic. A marvelous capture, Cindy.
Awww, thank you Rebecca. I loved them both too <3
I love your shots of the monkeys. I remember confronting one in my brother-in-law’s verandah, it was trying to snatch a cookie from my little nephew. They are little rascals. It ran when it saw me. 🙂
I saw a monkey jump down from a tree in Africa and bite a woman on her derriere. She was eating a sandwich. I think the monkey thought she would drop the sandwich, but she didn’t, she took off after him! 🙈
WOW!!!!!!
🙈 fun!
I wonder what they were expecting you to do. Play? Converse? Share some food, perhaps?
It shall forever remain a mystery. 🙈
I’ve never been a fan of monkeys, but there’s a cuteness about this pair. Like you, I think I’d have been a bit on the reserved side though. One can’t predict how wild critters will behave.
I got chased by a riled up baboon in Africa. People had been throwing rocks at him because he was raiding the camp. I took photos as I was running away and I have the pics to prove it!
Oh what an experience that must have been. Lucky you! All wonderful photos Cindy, but I think my fave is the last one.
Alison
Thank you Alison. Baby returned to mama for the climb back up the tree. Smart baby 🙈
Fascinating, Cindy! It doesn’t sound like they were being aggressive, but I probably would’ve backed-off too. Mothers usually don’t allow their offspring to tag along if they plan to physically challenge an intruder. I think you’re correct that they were just curious about you. Who knows? Maybe they wanted to take your camera! Monkeys are known to steal shiny things from tourists in SE Asia, and have even done so to extort food from them!
In Africa, I got chased by a very hostile baboon. That WAS scary! I took photos as I was running away….
Egads! Baboons are very powerful. They even stand up to lions sometimes. I sure hope you’re taking enough precautions, Cindy.
WOW!
Monkey fun!
Wow! love the creatures but glad you played it safe by not getting to close. Great shots.
So happy you enjoyed them Darnell & cheers to you 🙈
You are the luckiest person on earth to be on this trip! I so enjoy your posts, Cindy! 🙂
The truth is, I am the luckiest person on earth to have friends like you. I so enjoy your comments.
Thank you! Same here! 😊
<3
I think that you made the right move. I would do the same just for your safety at least at first. I understand though that the mantles look very gentle.
I didn’t know, so I went with a bit of caution. There’s another story here, about other critters, ones that would scare both you and me, but they seemed to be sleeping, and not interested in me, so I will tell you that story maybe next. Be well my friend. And thank you so much for your comments. I love them.
Darling pics of the little ones. You were brave to stand there and get all those amazing photos.
Awww, you are so kind to say so. Thank you <3
They are really beautiful and look sweet, but I think I would have backed up a bit too. Charming!
It was my back up though, just some steps, that made them veer away. I will always wonder what would have happened if I had just continued to stand still.
Great photos! You are fortunate to have seen howler monkeys. My husband and I heard them quite often during our bike-pack trips in Costa Rica. We were never lucky to see any.
Yes. They are amazing creatures. We are so lucky to live in a world with wild animals. I am glad you heard them in the trees.
Sweet shots, Cindy! 😀 I think I recognized one of my cousins! xx
Laughing….Love you Resa. I think I saw my relatives too <3
How wonderful and the baby is so adorable. Thank you for this.
Thank you more for caring <3
Oh my gosh, Cindy. What beautiful shots! This takes me straight back to Belize where a local farmer persuaded a wild howler mama with her baby on her back to stand on my shoulders. She smelt just like a freshly washed teddy bear.
Wild monkeys tend to like to interact with us. I have definitely experienced this many places. I think they know we are close relatives.
How special is that? <3 (I probably would have backed off, too. They have big incisors!)
It was pretty freaking special. Experiences like this are why I love to travel. I bet your son is now able to exit his home without burrowing under 20 feet of snow!
It has been melting – now there’s only 4′ of snow in the yard, but another storm is expected. Don’t know how he does it!
Wow!! So good the drought has been pushed back.
What a beautiful post! I would back up too!
Thank you & yes. I know why I did this. But I think the monkeys just wanted to get a closer look at me, since I was staring at them.
🙂
Cindy, thank you for these beautiful photographs!
Thank you Charles for appreciating these incredible creatures.
You are very welcome.
<3
Great work, thank you.
Thank you for the kind appreciation.
Fascinating, Cindy.
Honestly, it’s a pleasure to see such amazing creatures in their natural habitats.
I feel I am along for your rides. Thanks!
You are along, and you make my rides more fun. Thank you for joining me Sheila <3
Terrific photos, Cindy. What amazing creatures.
Gracias Lyn. So fascinating to watch them up close like this and not in a nature documentary.
Disappointed ☹️ or shy?
Yeah, when I look at the photos now, I wish I just kept standing there. She and her baby were not aggressive. They were just interested, but shy. You are right. They wanted to look at this frozen silent human, as much as I wanted to look at them. It is so fascinating to find wild animals. They teach me so much about myself, and about us.
They look adorable. 🌷
They are adorable cheeky monkeys <3
🙂
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Cindy Knoke’s Nicaragua photos of a Golden Mantled Howler mother and baby.
Thank you for supporting the 🙈🙈 sweet lady! <3
Amazing pictures again, Cindy. What a sweet mama and baby. It looks like they pose especially for you 🙂 Pawkisses for a Happy Week ahead🐾😽💞
Thanks my friend & cheers to you and your furry felines <3
Nice Moonky
🙈🙈 rock!
I don’t expect these were easy to catch
The biggest challenge was getting clear shots not impeded by branches and leaves, plus there were crocs around. Lots of them around the bend opening their mouths and sunning. I’ll post photos soon.
🙂
Liebe Cindy, hab eine gute Woche mit vielen schönen Momenten
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund <3 🙈
alles Gute für dich
<3 <3
Wonderful series of photos, Cindy.
Beautifully captured too 🙂
Those are great shots and you are wise to be cautious of any animal with their young around. You just don’t know.
Exactly.
Great photo essay on the Golden Mantles! The first time I read about these interesting animals. Thanks for sharing, Cindy!
Thank you more for appreciating the 🙈🙈 Peter!
I love being still in nature and seeing what happens. It seems once we get quiet, nature accepts us. How fun that they came to see you Cindy.
And this strange this happens, we remember we are animals too, people in the forest <3
https://superduque777.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/sem1.gif
Muchos gracias mi amigo <3 🙈
Gracias a ti Cindy por tu amabilidad amiga.
https://superduque777.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/rosayblanca.jpg?w=950
Es muy hermosa! Muchas gracias es muy amable <3 🙈
oh, wow, what a privilege, Cindy. To see these beauties up close. xxx
Yes, experiences like this are thrilling to me <3
I love monkeys. And these pictures are just for me.
I <3 people who <3 🙈🙈
😁
awww you missed out on a big furry hug =^_^=
Laughing…..I have a friend who got lice from hugging a three toed sloth hug!
The hooting was “You got any food?”
Maybe, but these guys are plant eaters and that tree was full of fresh green shoots. I had nothing to give her!
Poor attempt at a joke…
Ahhhh. Sorry. Sometimes humor gets lost in online communication! 😉
😀
Have you heard of the Owl Monkey Project? This could explain the behavior of this monkey.
What a wonderful sighting, Cindy. Great shots and fun to see how curious they are.
Yes, they were wonderful. Thanks much Jane.
One of the best things about observing monkeys in the wild is how they’ll sometimes watch us with as much curiosity as we watch them. It was good to keep your distance, though.
All us animals do this! Birds people watch.
That’s true!
<3
You’re right! Just today I had a robin who seemed like she was watching me, and there’s a young squirrel who seems to sit outside my window and watch me as I’m working in the kitchen.
Yep. Our roadrunners watch us through the windows while we sleep. I have no idea why they find this fascinating!
Maybe they’re planning something…
Undoubtedly!
I didn’t have my glasses on at the beginning, Cuz, and I thought you were at Lake Michigan and one of those guys looked like uncle Henry 😀. Hahaha ! Great pic’s Cindy. 📷
Boy you didn’t have your glasses on cuz, not Uncle Henry, Cousin Fred!
Aww so cute!! <3
They are our kissing cousins!
What awesome creatures and really great captures, Cindy!!
Thanks so much Kirt. I appreciate it.
A lot of times I’m wondering who’s watching who. I’ve even seen fish check me out on a dive.
Birds are avid people watchers!
Watching you, watching me, that’s wonderful to see. Lovely shots, Cindy! <3
Exactly. I catch wild animals and birds people watching all the time with my camera. Hope you four are enjoying the arrival of spring <3
What a thrilling encounter!
Yes. I felt honored to spend time with them.
The baby is following her and playing the Boss 🙂
hilarious catch
The are extremely entertaining to watch in the wild.
wünsche dir einen guten Tag mit vielen schönen Momenten
Ich wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende, mein Freund!
So, you decided it is not safe for them. And what is about your safety?
For all of us. Caution keeps everyone safe.
Magic monkey
<3 <3
Cindy, once again, thank you for stunning photographs!
Happy you enjoyed these gorgeous guys & Happy Weekend Charles~
es ist kalt geworden, da machen wir uns warme Gedanken und bleiben zu Hause
Hoffentlich wärmt dich der Frühling bald!
einfach nur genießen, ok?
Fabulous shots, Cindy. 🙂
So pleased you enjoyed them & Happy Weekend <3
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
I will leave you with the stunning images of golden mantled howler monkeys, captured beautifully as always by Cindy Knoke..amazing..
There are blogging women who reaffirm my faith in humanity, and you are at the top of the list. <3 <3
Thank you so much Cindy that is very kind and it is reciprocated…♥
I’ll say you were closer than I would have been, lol. I would have been running olympics as soon as I saw them scatter down the tree LOL 🙂
I think you would have stood there too, but just like me, backed up a bit 😉 Love to you sweet lady <3
Lol, I’m sure you don’t know me lolol 🙂 <3
Truly outstanding photos, Cindy. I was once standing too close to a howler and he threw a piece of fruit he was eating at me. They have a clear way of communicating their boundaries. lol. I love your photos here, and studied them for a long time. I love howler monkeys. Loved seeing the colors of their fur in the sunshine, the eyes so wide open, especially liked the one hooting at you. Nice background too. What a great day for you. Thanks for sharing it.
You get it. And I know you do. It was such a thrill and honor. When wildlife doesn’t know you, yet chooses to get close to you, it has to be the purest thing ever.
an diesem Wochenende bleibe ich zu Hause und mache es mir gemütlich
Terrific photos, Cindy!
these photos are super spectacular. The models are reflected with a surprising sharpness that we can even visualize their expressions on their faces. Undoubtedly a wonderful experience in the Central American jungle.
Brave Monkey 🤨
Indeed. Brave and non-aggressive.
So cute!! I think they liked being clicked!! But if i was in your place i would have been running back with full force the moment they looked like coming down!! 😂😂 You are brave!!
Loved your description!!
Thank you so much and I am happy you enjoyed these guys as I did. Cheers to you & be well!
Cindy, they are fascinating. Thank you for sharing them with us. <3
Amazing. It must have been fun photographing the monkeys. Lovely pictures🤗
Thank you. It was so much fun!
Sweet salve for these eyes (after those crocs, ha). They’re so beautiful I could cry. I’m so happy you were able to be in their presence and part of their day. What an amazing experience Cindy !! xk
So happy you like them too! I felt temporarily accepted which was a wonderful feeling <3
Phenomenal photos!
Honored, thank you & lovely to meet you~