Monkey Day

Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Dec 22, 2023 By Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Originally Published on Feb 21, 2022
Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath
Monkey Day is great for raising awareness on primates!

Where is Monkey Day celebrated?

Monkey Day is celebrated in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Canada, Colombia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Thailand.

Who is Monkey Day celebrated by?

Monkey Day is celebrated by animal lovers and animal rights activists.

When did Monkey Day first start?

Monkey Day was started in 2000 at Michigan State University.

Who started Monkey Day?

Monkey Day was created and hyped as a prank by Casey Sorrow. Since then, Monkey Day is celebrated as a day that focuses on the primate welfare cause. Casey Sorrow still promotes the day and maintains the Monkey Day website where he talks about primate-related news.

History And Timeline

The origin of Monkey Day can be traced back to 2000, when the event was first celebrated. Ever since then, the occasion is celebrated each year on December 14.

Rise Of The Monkeys

It's estimated that the first monkeys on Earth appeared around 60 million years ago!

60 Million Years Ago

Claudius' Study Of Monkeys

Renowned Greek surgeon and physician Claudius Galenus, also known as Galen of Pergamon, studies monkeys by dissecting them and, in turn, learns about the animal's likeness to man.

Second Century AD

Monkeys Space Journey

Two female monkeys, Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey and Miss Able, a Rhesus macaque, are sent to space by the United States. They return safely to Earth.

1959

Creation Of Monkey Day

Erik Millikin and Casey Sorrow inaugurate Monkey Day at Michigan State University.

2000

Millikin Sends Mail

Monkey Day-themed mail is sent to strangers, among whom were the then-president Barack Obama and Koko the Gorilla who is famous for being able to use a plethora of sign languages.

2013

Traditions And Customs

We have celebrated Monkey Day since its inception in 2000. The day is observed to raise awareness about monkeys, apes, lemurs, and various other non-human primates.

It has become something of a custom to learn more about the animals on this day.

Ways To Observe Or Celebrate Monkey Day

You can celebrate Monkey Day by paying a visit to your local zoo to see, learn and, in rare instances, interact with monkeys. You can also watch movies focusing on monkeys or other primates. If you're feeling generous, you can donate to organizations that help monkeys and other animal rights institutions.

In India, people are often inspired to adopt monkeys in zoos to help with raising them. The Faruk Yalçın Zoo and Botanical Park in Darıca Turkey hold Monkey Day events to educate people about monkeys. The National Zoo & Aquarium in Australia hosts educational talks alongside raising awareness and undertaking charity work for the conservation of endangered species.

Monkey Day Facts And Stats

  • Casey Sorrow and Eric Millikin, the founder of this fun yet important day, were students of Michigan State University when the day began.
  • In many regions of the world, monkeys are a special part of the culture. So celebrating this day means a lot to many people around the world.
  • Apart from this day, there is also another day dedicated to monkeys. It's called National See A Monkey Day and is celebrated on May 16.

Why is there a Monkey Day?

Monkey Day was created to boost awareness about the amusing primates. 

Is December 14 Monkey Day?

Yes, December 14th is celebrated as Monkey Day. 

Why do we celebrate Monkey Day?

Monkey Day is celebrated to teach the world about the importance of monkeys in the ecosystem. 

What do you do on Monkey Day?

You can take part in celebrating Monkey Day by visiting your local zoos or reading up about these highly intelligent primates. 

What is the significance of Monkey Day?

Monkey Day began as one of many quirky and fun holidays, but today we celebrate it to raise awareness about the many monkey species.

Who started Monkey Day and when?

Eric Millikin and Casey Sorrow found Monkey Day in 2000. 

In which countries do they celebrate Monkey Day?

Monkey Day is celebrated by animal rights activists in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Canada, Pakistan, Colombia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Thailand. 

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Sunday, December 13, 2020
  • Monday, December 13, 2021
  • Tuesday, December 13, 2022
  • Wednesday, December 13, 2023
  • Friday, December 13, 2024

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Written by Rajnandini Roychoudhury

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

Rajnandini Roychoudhury picture

Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature. 

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Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath

Bachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

Pratiti Nath picture

Pratiti NathBachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

A Master's in Biotechnology from Presidency University and a Bachelor's in Microbiology from Calcutta University. Pratiti holds expertise in writing science and healthcare articles, and their inputs and feedback help writers create insightful content. They have interests in heritage, history, and climate change issues and have written articles for various websites across multiple subjects. Their experience also includes working with eco-friendly startups and climate-related NGOs.

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