01/06/2026
🍧🐒 A Cool Treat for Faan! 🐒🍧
There is nothing quite like an ice lolly on a warm day, and our vervet monkey Faan certainly agrees! Watching him carefully inspect, lick, and enjoy his frozen treat reminds us just how intelligent and curious these incredible primates are.
Faan’s journey to Felidae, however, was not an easy one. As a young monkey, he was kept as a pet by people who did not understand the complex social and natural behaviors of vervet monkeys. When Faan reached sexual maturity, his instincts began to take over. In the wild, male vervet monkeys compete for dominance and their place within a troop. This often includes challenging behavior, and biting can be a completely normal part of their natural social structure.
Unfortunately, when Faan displayed these natural behaviors, he was no longer wanted and was discarded by the people who had raised him. Thankfully, we were fortunate enough to give him a second chance here at Felidae.
Today, Faan lives with four other vervet monkeys, where he can express natural behaviors, socialize with his own kind, and enjoy a life that is much closer to what nature intended. His story is an important reminder that wild animals are not pets. Even when raised by humans, their wild instincts remain a fundamental part of who they are.
Seeing Faan happily enjoying his ice lolly today is a beautiful reminder of why rescue and education are so important. Every animal deserves understanding, respect, and the opportunity to live the life they were meant to live.