How much is a monkey?

[mom-from-missouri]

Went to the county fair. There was an older couple who had a booth (booth space was $25). In their booth they had a monkey. You could get your picture taken with the monkey for $5. BUT, if you gave the monkey a quarter, it would put it in is pocket (it wore clothes), tip its hat, and shake your hand. If you gave it a dollar bill, it would do the same, then dance for you. The kids and I stood there for about 20 minutes watching the monkey. (It was in the shade, and fun to watch) No one got their picture taken with it, but I estimate that monkey got about $10 in quarters during that time, and probably $25 in bills. It didn't know who to go to first, because so many people were handing it money. At that rate, those people are taking in hundreds of dollars a day. When the monkeys pocket got full of quarters, they emptied it out into a large trash can. It was full almost. Later, as the fair was closing up for the night, I saw them put the can in the back of their RV-van. Took 2 people to lift it. Maybe monkey business does pay??

Re: How much is a monkey?

True, but makes me feel bad for the monkey

[PrincessPerky]

Re: How much is a monkey?

Many stories I have read from well 'monkey people' say that many monkeys like attention and love to perform, so long as the after show life is happy and filled with love, it prolly isn't as bad as all that.

Wonder if the monkey knew the difference between a quarter and a nickle? or a 5 and a 1 dollar bill?

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: How much is a monkey?

He does know...A kid gave him a penny and he just looked at it and handed it back.

[kashi]

Re: How much is a monkey?

I feel bad for the monkey, too.

[Fern]

Re: How much is a monkey?

i thought you had to go to southeast asia to see something like that. Very depressing, I'd say.

[pierre]

Re: How much is a monkey?

I feel bad for the monkey, too.

I've seen this 'attraction' and the monkey looked happy and loved its owner.
I will say don't feel too bad. Monkeys love and need attention, this one got its share. Not too bad even if I would prefer to see it in the wild.

I spent 10 years in central west Africa. I've seen monkeys as pets, as food, as free animals and as pests too and what a pest at first it's funny then we decided to move our cabin. The 'tribe' decided that our cabin was to nice for us The dominant male became too dominant and wasn't afraid to chalenge me - monkey's bite are terrible.

So this monkey attraction is bad but I'm sure the monkey loves it.

[cicy33]

Re: How much is a monkey?

He does know...A kid gave him a penny and he just looked at it and handed it back.

that is too funny! I am sure that the monkey was treated right, or at least that is what I am going to think!

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: How much is a monkey?

The monkey looked very happy and was clean. They actually had 4, and each one only performed 2 hours at a time-the others were in their RV, with the air on-you could see them thru the window-they were watching childrens videos. They also had bottled water they were drinking, and fruit to eat. The owners also had a vet. certification of health & vacanations posted-(posting of such is not even required in our state.) The couple was older, and from what I could see, pretty much treated the monkeys like their kids. A friend told me if it was the same couple she thought it was, the monkeys went to schools and nursing homes to visit, and were toilet trained.

[Fern]

Re: How much is a monkey?

It's nice to hear the monkeys were well treated, but that doesn't make it right to take what is a wild animal out of its natural environment and turn it into a pseudo child. I'm sorry, but watching videos in an air conditioned RV is not what monkeys were born to do.