This unusual sighting highlighted the opportunistic feeding habits of vervet monkeys and the often harsh realities of survival in the wild.
It was filmed by Mike Sutherland.
Vervet monkey’s unusual meal draws attention
The Okavango Delta is a lush and biodiverse floodplain. It offers a haven for all kinds of wildlife.
Chameleons in the Delta usually rely on their camouflage and slow, calculated movements to avoid predators. However, this one’s defenses didn’t succeed in keeping a sharp-eyed vervet monkey away.
The monkey had found the lizard and gripped it tightly as it examined it.
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Vervet monkeys are highly curious animals and this one examined the chameleon closely, before lifting it to its mouth.
It proceeded to nibble at the lizard. This was a most unusual snack, and perhaps a moment that was shocking to human observers.
However, it provided a glimpse into the complex food web that keeps the environment in balance.
Monkey nibbles at chameleon
Vervet monkeys are among the most adaptable primates in southern Africa. In the Okavango Delta, they thrive in riverine forests, woodlands, and near human settlements, often seen foraging near lodges and camps. These ones had settled in a tree and had been hanging out together when the chameleon crossed their paths.
While they primarily eat fruits, seeds, flowers, leaves, and insects, vervet monkeys in the Delta are known to supplement their diet with bird eggs, small reptiles like chameleons, and even crabs during the wet season.
Vervet monkeys live in complex social groups that can include up to 30 individuals. These groups have strict hierarchies, with dominant females often having better access to food and grooming.
The monkeys make for fun viewing, as their antics can be humoresque. Vervet monkeys have a wide range of facial expressions and gestures, from raised eyebrows to lip-smacking, grooming, and mock surprise. Watching them interact gives a window into their social world and can be both fascinating and funny.
A beautiful display of vervet monkeys’ complex nature
Vervet monkeys’ family dynamics are also rich and relatable. You can often see grooming sessions, arguments, power struggles, and reconciliations, all within a few minutes. It’s like watching a live soap opera unfold in the trees!
Just as people watch them, vervet monkeys often watch people right back. They’ll tilt their heads, mimic movements, or study tourists with obvious interest, sometimes approaching closely before darting away.
While Mike and those with him observed the monkey eating the chameleon, the monkey observed them. It possibly wasn’t its first choice of snack, however the monkey seemed content enough.
Monkey pauses to examine food
Every now and then it would have another look at the chameleon and if it was a human, someone might have reprimanded it with the words, “Stop playing with your food!”
In places like the Okavango Delta, where wildlife sightings are abundant, vervet monkeys provide a light-hearted contrast to the more serious, stealthy predators.
Their vivid personalities and antics remind us of our own social quirks, making them both entertaining and relatable.