Swimming Monkeys

One of the new things that I saw during the boat trip through the mangroves was swimming monkeys! Who knew that monkeys could swim?!? It turns out that a number of different kinds of monkeys are able to swim either to find food or to get from one place to the other.

These long-tailed macaques, or crab-eating macaques, have learned how to swim in order to hunt for crabs in the mangroves.

Boat tours through the mangroves are a popular activity at Langkawi. Thus, these monkeys get a lot of visitors. These guys are waiting for the next boat to arrive.


The guide enticed the monkeys into the water by tossing in slices of bread.


The monkeys swam using a monkey-style dog paddle.





The smaller, younger monkeys did not get into the water. I am not sure if it is because they are unable to swim yet or because they are afraid to fight with the larger monkeys. This little guy picked up his slice of bread by hanging upside down from a branch and grabbing the bread as if floated by.


The moms with babies just sat on a nearby rock watching the action.