The terrifying sounds of Colobus monkeys

Black and white colobus (or Mantled guereza) monkeys make loud roars and growls that resonate in the forests of Africa.

On my first expedition to Ethiopia in 2018, I arrived at the lodge in the cloud forest at midnight. I could not see what the place looked like and had no idea what to expect. It had been a long trip and I was exhausted so crashed as soon as I hit the bed.

Imagine my reaction when at 5am I was rudely woken up by crashes on the roof of my hut and then the most terrifying growls I'd ever heard in person! There was a bit of dim light outside so I peeked out the window and saw a small group of black and white shapes moving around in the canopy. Still half asleep, I soon realised this behaviour was similar to what Howler monkeys do in Central and South America.

The calls of Colobus monkeys are territorial, which means they help with group cohesion and to ward off potential competitors without having to resort to violence. Low frequencies travel better in the thick jungles that this monkey calls home, and since they are so loud they can be heard from miles away. While their roars and growls sound terrifying, these monkeys are actually quite peaceful and egalitarian in their social lives. Tell that to an exhausted sound recordist at 5am though 😂

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