Between 2022 and 2023, a strange behavior was seen on a small island in Panama. Male capuchin monkeys were recorded carrying baby howler monkeys. This happened while researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute were studying tool use. Over 80 cameras captured at least 11 cases. Most of the baby howlers were very young and still needed their mothers. These two types of monkeys are not closely related. Experts said that this kind of action had never been documented before. The study was shared in the scientific journal Current Biology.

Researchers believed that the first case happened because of a confused caring instinct. A male capuchin acted very gently with the baby. Later, other young males copied this peculiar behavior. The capuchins did not try to eat the babies, so experts ruled out hunting. Sadly, many of the baby howlers may have died from hunger. Some were even carried after death. Similar actions were seen in other animals like whales and gorillas. Scientists said this showed the diversity of animal behavior. It also emphasized the need to study how animals think and learn. So far, only one group of capuchins has shown this exceptional behavior.