peterdawson

By peterdawson28

Cercopithicus albogularis

This soulful looking chap is known as the Samango monkey in southern Africa although it is more common in central and east Africa, where it is known as the Syke's or blue monkey.

Like so many species the Samango has suffered severe habitat loss as a result of human encroachment into the native forests in which it lives. This makes the iSimangaliso World Heritage Site and the nearby Hluhluwe-iMfolozi reserve very significant places for the preservation of the monkey in South Africa.

This shot was actually taken in the parking area at Cape Vidal where a small troop of Samangos have inevitably become somewhat corrupted by their contact with humans. They are still far less brazen than the vervet monkeys in their food stealing habits and seem more content to pick up scraps that people have left.

Apart from cropping this shot is basically straight from the camera and although I pretty much never shoot portraits of people I have to say I'm rather pleased with the way this turned out. The extra shot was from the same sequence but with all colours apart from orange de-saturated just to make those amazing eyes really stand out.

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