Mountain Monkeys: Primates That Live at High Altitude

A handful of monkeys have abandoned the warm forests most primates depend on and colonised cold, thin-aired mountains. Geladas graze Ethiopian grasslands at 4,000 metres, golden snub-nosed monkeys eat lichen in Chinese snowfields, and Japanese macaques sit out blizzards in hot springs.

Key takeaways

• High-altitude monkeys share three solutions: thick coats, low-quality fallback foods and tight social huddling.
• The gelada is the only primate that is primarily a grazer, living on grass blades and roots.
• Mountains create isolated “sky islands”, which is why so many montane monkeys are endemic and endangered.
• Warming climates push montane species upslope until there is no higher ground left.

The main mountain monkeys

Gelada — Ethiopian Highlands, 1,800-4,400 m

Geladas live on Afroalpine grassland, sleep on vertical cliff faces to avoid hyenas and leopards, and spend most of the day seated, shuffling forward while plucking grass. Their herds can exceed 800 animals. The bare red chest patch is the male’s status signal.

Golden snub-nosed monkey — central China, 1,500-3,400 m

Survives snowbound temperate forest on a lichen-heavy winter diet. See the full golden snub-nosed monkey profile.

Japanese macaque — Japan, up to 3,000 m

The northernmost non-human primate, famous for hot-spring bathing. See the Japanese macaque guide.

Barbary macaque — Atlas and Rif mountains, up to 2,600 m

North Africa’s cedar-forest macaque, and the only wild primate population in Europe via Gibraltar. Endangered, largely due to the illegal pet trade.

Yunnan black snub-nosed monkey — up to 4,700 m

Lives higher than any other non-human primate, in fir forest on the Tibetan plateau margin.

Himalayan and Assamese macaques, Nepal grey langur

Widespread in the Himalayan foothills, ranging above 3,000 metres in summer and descending in winter.

How they cope with cold and altitude

Challenge	Adaptation
Freezing temperatures	Dense double-layered winter coat; reduced extremities
Night cold	Sleeping huddles and cliff ledges or dense conifer crowns
Food scarcity	Fallback foods: lichen, bark, buds, grass, roots
Thin air	Larger lung capacity and higher haemoglobin in some populations
Seasonal snow	Altitudinal migration — moving downslope in winter
Energy budget	Reduced daily travel and long resting bouts

See also Monkeys That Live in Snowy Climates and Monkey Adaptations.

Why mountain monkeys are so vulnerable

Montane species occupy narrow altitude bands on isolated massifs. As temperatures rise, suitable habitat shifts upslope and shrinks; eventually there is nowhere higher to go. Add livestock grazing, firewood collection, road building and tourism pressure, and most montane primates are declining. Read Climate Change and Monkeys and Threats to Monkey Habitats.

Where to see them

Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia for geladas, Jigokudani in Japan for snow monkeys, Shennongjia in China for golden snub-nosed monkeys, and the Middle Atlas cedar forests of Morocco for Barbary macaques. Planning help in Monkeys in National Parks and Best Places to See Monkeys.

Frequently asked questions

Which monkey lives at the highest altitude?

The Yunnan black snub-nosed monkey, recorded up to about 4,700 metres.

How do monkeys survive freezing mountain winters?

Thick winter coats, huddling, reduced activity and fallback foods such as lichen, bark and grass.

Do geladas really eat grass?

Yes. Grass blades, seeds and roots make up the overwhelming majority of their diet — unique among primates.

Are there monkeys in Europe?

One population: the Barbary macaques of Gibraltar, descended from North African stock.

Are mountain monkeys endangered?

Many are, because their habitat is naturally fragmented and is shrinking as the climate warms.

Related: Monkey Habitats Explained, Where Do Monkeys Live?, Ultimate Guide to Monkeys.