OUR COUSINS IN THE CANOPY VIDEO SERIES

In this captivating video series, you’ll be astonished by the vast array of primate species, their incredible diversity, and the unique ways they adapt to their environments. You’ll encounter primate species that you may never have heard of before. You’ll also find that, despite the title of this series, many of our nonhuman primate relatives do not reside in the treetops.

Primate conservation goes beyond protecting nonhuman primates and their habitats; it also benefits every species sharing those environments. This is due to the intricate, beautiful, and complex interdependence of all species within a habitat. By saving one species, many others are saved too! Through this series, we aim to empower you to play a role in preserving them all through your everyday actions. And it’s simpler than you might think! You can be an agent of change.

Subscribe to New England Primate Conservancy’s YouTube Channel to receive notifications for new episodes as they become available. be notified when more episodes are available. Don’t forget to “Like” the episodes! We hope you enjoy the series. (If you find the thumbnail-sized videos to be too small to enjoy, click on the video and then click “YouTube” in the right lower corner to view full size on YouTube.)

The Who, What, Why, Where, How, and When of Primates

In a world with 6,700 mammal species, how can you tell which ones are primates? Explore the traits, behaviors, and amazing diversity that make primates unique. (3:12)

All primates share key traits—but with so much variety, there’s an exception to every rule! Explore what makes primates unique! (3:33)

Find out WHERE in the world primates live and how they got there. Notice where they don’t live and why. (5:56)

WHY do primates matter? And why is protecting them vital to the health of our planet? Discover why protecting primates means protecting life itself. (2:40)

HOW You Can Help. Wondering what you can do to help the world’s primates? Find out here! (4:41)

Find out WHEN animals are in trouble. Discover the warning signs for when species are in dire danger. (4:09)

Biodiversity: The Foundation of All Life

In a world where every species has a story — where every forest, savanna, wetland and mountain holds secrets of resilience — we are reminded that protecting nature is not an optional luxury, but an absolute necessity.
This video delves into the hidden strategies, astonishing adaptations and deep interconnections that enable life on Earth to persist. From the smallest insect surviving in a harsh micro-environment to the towering giants of the wild defending their place in the cycle of life — it’s all part of the great tapestry of survival.
But these stories are under threat. Habitat destruction, climate disruption, species loss: the warnings are serious, and the stakes are high.
Join us as we travel through nature’s classroom, learning lessons that apply not just to the wild, but to our shared future. Because when we protect nature, we protect ourselves — our health, our communities, our planet’s ability to sustain life.
🌿 Watch. Reflect. Act. Because when life on Earth thrives, we all win. (3:09)

Primate Families

Apes Great and Small

Orangutans of Borneo and Sumatra are masters of the trees and symbols of rainforest life. With most of their habitat lost and populations slow to recover, they’re now critically endangered — but with protection, there’s still hope for their future. (4:17)

Learn more: Orangutans

Sometimes referred to as “lesser apes,” gibbons are small acrobatic apes that dwell high in the canopy of tropical and subtropical rainforests across East, South, and Southeast Asia. Known for their extraordinary agility and grace, as well as their complex songs, these primates play a crucial role in reforesting their ecosystems. (4:03)

Learn more here: Gibbons

Africa’s great apes are our closest living relatives—sharing over 98% of our DNA—and they are extraordinary beings with complex lives, rich cultures, and vital roles within their ecosystems. In this video, explore the remarkable world of bonobos, chimpanzees, and gorillas: their intelligence, social relationships, behaviors, communication, and the challenges they face in the wild. (12:29).

Learn more here: Bonobos, Chimpanzees, Gorillas

What’s the difference between apes and monkeys? They’re very different in many ways. (3:31)

Monkeys

Africa's Monkeys

Graceful, colorful, and endlessly adaptable—Africa’s monkeys are living portraits of diversity. From the forest canopy to open savannas, nearly a hundred species thrive across the continent. Each tells a story of evolution through color, movement, and behavior. Discover how their physical traits reveal a world of adaptation and intelligence. Enjoy a closer look at how Africa’s monkeys embody the beauty, balance, and complexity of life in one of the world’s most extraordinary regions. (4:44)

Learn more about the Monkeys of Africa.

In Africa’s forests, savannas, and mountains, monkeys aren’t just surviving — they’re shaping the world around them. Every bite, every adaptation, every feeding strategy connects them to the web of life that sustains an entire continent. From fruit specialists to leaf-eaters and everything in between, Africa’s monkeys reveal how evolution, diet, and biodiversity are inseparably linked. This is the story of appetites that shape ecosystems — and the balance of nature that shapes them in return. (5:11)

Learn more about the Monkeys of Africa.

Baboons are large, clever, mostly ground-dwelling monkeys who live in sizeable, complex troops with intricate social lives. Frequently maligned and underappreciated. Six beautiful baboon species grace Africa’s savannas and woodlands. (4:09)

Learn more here: Baboons

Colobus monkeys are tree-dwelling, leaf-eating monkeys native to eastern, central, and western Africa, comprising twenty-four species in three genera. Mother Nature graced them with very specific and unique physical, behavioral, and lifestyle characteristics that benefit them and their ecosystems. (3:54)

Learn more here: Colobus monkeys

Geladas, also known as “bleeding-heart monkeys” for their striking red chest patches, are large, terrestrial, baboon-like primates found only in the Ethiopian highland. With distinct physical and behavioral characteristics, such as their unique grass-eating lifestyle, these remarkable primates form complex societies governed by communication, cooperation, and subtle social bonds. In this video, find out who they are! (4:04)

Learn more here: Geladas

Asia's Monkeys

Asia’s colobine monkeys—also called leaf monkeys—include about 55 species such as langurs, lutungs, and surilis. They are slim, long-tailed monkeys that mostly eat leaves, using their special multi-chambered stomachs to digest tough plant food. Most live high in the trees. Sadly, most species are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. (6:57)

Learn more about the Monkeys of Asia

What’s special about macaques? They are perhaps the most maligned monkey species. Why? Because they are clever and adaptable. They are almost as adaptable as humans to a wide variety of climates and living conditions. They are magnificent, diverse, and gravely underappreciated. Here’s an overview of “Macaques—in a nutshell.” (3:13)

Learn more: Macaques

Latin America's Monkeys

Latin America is home to some of the most diverse and fascinating primates on Earth. From the misty cloud forests of the Andes to the sprawling Amazon rainforest, these monkeys live in a wide range of habitats—tropical rainforests, dry forests, mangroves, savannas, and even mountain woodlands. Discover how they arrived in the Americas and how they evolved to adapt to their ecosystems. Our primate cousins are essential to the health and welfare of their environments. (4:22)

Learn more about Latin America’s monkeys

Some of Latin America’s monkeys have physical adaptations that distinguish them from any other monkeys in the world. The family of monkeys referred to as Atelidae has traits that any superhero would envy. So, who are these remarkable monkeys? What are their distinguishing features? How do these adaptations function? What makes them truly exceptional? Discover the answers here…in a nutshell. (4:12)

Learn more about Latin America’s monkeys

From hook-fingered spider monkeys to clawed marmosets, the hands of Latin America’s monkeys reveal extraordinary evolutionary adaptations. This video explores how their unique grips—whether built for strength, precision, or speed—help them thrive in the canopy and, in turn, shape the very forests they call home. (5:10)

Learn more about Latin America’s monkeys

Did you know some monkeys use nature as their own pharmacy? From rubbing citrus and millipedes into their coats to drinking clay and eating bitter leaves, Latin America’s primates have mastered incredible self-care techniques. Watch how capuchins, titi monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and howler monkeys protect their health, repel insects, soothe digestion, and even pass these life-saving habits to the next generation. (3:15)

Learn more about Latin America’s monkeys

Prosimians

The prosimians of mainland Africa are generally not very well known. They’re not particularly charismatic. But they’re so unique! Why do pottos and angwantibos NOT have index fingers?! And what the heck is an angwantibo? What about the nightly adventures of galagos? All nocturnal, these small primates and their unusual lifestyles will surely surprise you. Find out about them here! (6:46)

Learn more: Angwantibos, Pottos, Galagos

Lemurs, the prosimian primates of Madagascar that are found nowhere else in the world. More than 110 lemur species inhabit this one island nation through a wide variety of ecosystems. With 98% of lemurs threatened with extinction, they are the world’s most endangered primate group. (9:32)

Learn more here: Lemurs

Tarsiers are among the world’s most unusual animals! They are surely the most unique primates. Small, nocturnal, arboreal, mostly solitary, and the only fully carnivorous primates. They can turn their heads 180° on each side and they can hunt in darkness by hearing their prey. They are perfect predators. Watch the video to learn about tarsiers…in a nutshell. (4:42)

Learn more: Tarsiers

Lorises—Small, Secretive, and Full of Surprises. Meet the loris—small, secretive, and full of surprises. With giant eyes, a powerful grip, and even a venomous bite, these nocturnal primates reveal the hidden wonders of the night. (5:19)

Learn more: Lorises