Wildlife in the Groves: Monkey with Baby

In Yorùbá tradition, sacred forests are places of ritual where animals are free from hunting and medicinal plants can flourish. The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), which is responsible for the Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo Sacred Grove, protects the 75-hectare UNESCO World Heritage Site from poachers and fishermen.
As a result, the mona monkey population has thrived in this safe haven over the years.
Instead of hunting the monkeys, farmers coming back from their fields often toss bananas and other food items for them to eat. The monkeys are used to the company of people and quite comfortable interacting with visitors to the Groves.