When fruit is scarce, these monkeys hunt animals
smithsonianmag.comMost Asian primates that I have encountered are omnivores, especially if you include insects and small reptiles/amphibians.
Is that not the case in Central/South America?
Once a horse gets a taste for baby chicks, it's hard to convince them they aren't omnivorous.
When cows have phosphorus deficiency, they occasionally eat small birds, rodents, insects, or bones
Is this just based on that one video or is there something more to this
Its probably true of most animals. I raised a couple of pigs and we intentionally never fed them any meat, even though they'd probably eat it, because we didnt want them to get a taste for it
Conversely, when animals are scarce, wolves will eat lots of blueberries.
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-wolves-may-be-helping-...
Related somewhat: ground squirrels in Bay Area park started actively started hunting voles.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/carnivorous-feeding-squ...
I suspect it is not just when fruit is scarce many if not most primates are omnivores. Fruit is likely easier than meat most of the time but meat contains dense nutrients. Macaques e.g crab eating macaques routinely eat meat.
I was taught this in school thirty years ago. Is this not a known thing?
Eating other animals and being able to digest other animals can be two different things. Feels like that should have been a part of such an article.
I don't feel like the article is lacking for that. It's evolution at work. There could be monkeys eating animals that can properly digest them due to some mutation or unique gut biomes. Actually eating the animals is an important first step. Monkeys that usually eat fruits are hunting and eating animals when food is scarce, that's an article worthy observation.
Would they spend the energy if there wasn't any gain to it?
Eliminating competition?