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THE BIG NOSE MONKEY
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Proboscis Monkey
Nasalis larvatus
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What has a big nose, a large belly, a hairy back, and likes to sit in a
tree and scratch itself? If you guessed your Uncle Ralph at a Fourth of
July picnic, you're technically correct. But the answer we were looking
for was "a big nose monkey." Known also as "proboscis monkeys," they're
native to Borneo, which is renowned for its wild orangutan population.
Although the orangutans get more attention, the big nose monkeys have
bigger noses. Who gets the better of the deal? We won't venture a guess.
There are undoubtedly countless legends about big nose monkeys. Here at
The Alexander Home Page, though, we can't think of a single one.
So we'll make up a few.
It has been said that if you kiss a big nose monkey in Paris, you will
never have trouble with your ankles.
It has been said that every time a big nose monkey sneezes, an angel
loses a feather.
If you give a big nose monkey a lemon, he will probably throw it at you.
But if you teach a big nose monkey to make lemonade, then you've really
got something.
And so ends our in-depth look at big nose monkeys. We hope you found it
informative and enlightening.
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On April 25, 1999 Alexander made his triumphant return to the Bronx Zoo,
and found it exactly where he left it, right off the Bronx River Parkway
in New York City's northernmost borough. There were more human visitors
than there were during Alex's previous
visit one year earlier, but there may have been fewer animals. Due
to renovations, the rhinoceros and gorilla exhibits were closed. While
the work is in progress, the Zoo provides the displaced rhinos and
gorillas with comfortable accommodations in a luxurious Manhattan hotel.
Gorillas may not be the ideal hotel guests, but those in the hospitality
industry claim that they prefer gorillas to touring rock stars.
Alex demonstrated that he is not the type to sit and quietly contemplate
the beauty of nature's creations. He would give each animal a quick
glance and then hurry off to see the next one. The one place he was
willing to linger was the spot with the worst smell. Upon entering the
giraffe house, visitors are assaulted by the unmistakable stink of an
unwashed giraffe. The animal in question was eating something that
looked like green straw from a wall-mounted feeder, but Alex identified
it as spinach. He thrilled to the sight of the giraffe dropping his
"spinach" on the floor and then placing atop the feeder before eating
it.
Other highlights included:
- A pair of huge crocodiles sitting motionless with their mouths
open, showing their "big scary teeth."
- The "big nose monkey" (see
sidebar) who looked directly at Alex.
- The "zoo cakes" (Twinkies) that Alex snacked on.
- The peacock who shouted "No! No! NOOOO!"
- Watching the Skyfari aerial tramway from the safety of the ground.
Alex had such a good time at the zoo that, after over five hours, and
obvious fatigue, he was adamantly opposed to leaving. The Bronx Zoo once
again provided a wholesome day of family fun and fantastic fauna.
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