The white-naped mangabey is found in rainforests and mangrove swamps in Western Africa (Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso).

25-30 years

White-naped mangabeys are omnivores, meaning they feed on both plants and animals. They have a diverse diet that includes seeds, fruit, nuts, fungi and invertebrates. They mainly forage for food on the forest floor, but also spend time foraging in trees. They have strong jaws and large incisor teeth that allow them to eat hard nuts and fruit.

Troop

African Plains

The white-naped mangabey was until recently considered a subspecies of the grey mangabey. Following a reclassification, it is now considered a separate species. Its closest related species is the sooty mangabey.

White-naped mangabeys are social animals. They live in troops of 10-90 individuals, this number usually depends on the availability of food and shelter. Each troop contains a number of males and females. There is usually one adult male per troop that acts as the leader and protector. However, in larger groups, there can be two to three dominant males that will forage for food with their own family unit. The females stay with their troops from birth. Males will leave the troop when they are 5 years old in search of another troop to join.

Infant

Approximately 6 months

1

Approximately 400g

Approximately 5 years

The white-naped mangabey is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Unknown but rapidly declining

The white-naped mangabey is under threat from the destruction of their habitat by deforestation. They are also poached (hunted) as bushmeat and are being killed for raiding farmers’ crops.

In 2001 Dublin Zoo was one of 11 European zoos, together with two nature conservation organisations, that established the West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA). The aim of WAPCA is the conservation of endangered primate species in western Africa, including the white-crowned mangabey. Dublin Zoo also participates in the EEP breeding programme for this species.