07) The Hidden Gem: The Monkey Mountain in Salem – A Must-Visit for Nature Enthusiasts!
- O Peregrino
- May 27, 2024
- 10 min read
Updated: Oct 31, 2024
Castles: Germany is home to around 20,000 castles. The Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria is one of the most famous and is often considered the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.
The advantage of living in Friedrichshafen are the distances. For example, our next trip is to visit the monkey mountain. The bus, which runs every two hours, takes an hour to cover the approximately 40 km. Where we live now in Brazil the distance is more or less 10.000 km. The monkey park is situated near a city called Salem. Salem is a municipality in the Bodensee district of Baden-Württemberg in Southern Germany, located 9 km north of Lake Constance, with a population of 11,100. Although the Barbary macaques are the main attractions, there is also a stork colony, allow deers and natural wildlife, likes snakes and a lots of waterfowl, because of the Stork Pond situated near the entrance.
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The Diary of Jimmy the Barbary monkey
"It was another glorious morning on the Monkey Mountain in Salem. The sun was peeking over the horizon, casting a golden glow on the treetops, and the air was filled with the chirping of birds and the distant hum of human tourists. To me, a Barbary macaque, this meant only one thing: another day of mischief, merriment, and monkey business.
I stretched lazily and shook off the remnants of sleep. I am the undisputed troublemaker of the group, a title I bear with pride. My reputation had grown over the years thanks to my endless supply of antics and my talent for turning even the most mundane situations into comedic gold.
With a heavy heart, I think back to the good old days when visitors could still buy popcorn to feed us.
We were a good team. At first we always sent a little baby Barbary macaque with its expressive big eyes to the visitors. The baby was immediately surrounded by delighted visitors, who literally showered it with popcorn. The rest of our gang crept up from behind and at my signal we grabbed everything that wasn't tied up in some way: hats, wigs, earrings, cameras, glasses, umbrellas, walking sticks and, above all, smartphones.
Then the screaming of the visitors starts, which can be heard for many kilometers. They run after us, but they are too clumsy and we have already been up in the treetops for a long time.
Now phase two begins: bargaining the things that are useless to us for good food. The park rangers arranged the exchange.
Those were fantastic times. But today, popcorn is not allowed to be sold, we are only fed by our human caretakers. Anyway, there are other things to enjoy at the Monkey Mountain.
"Morning, Jimmy!" called Benny, my best friend and fellow troublemaker. Benny was sitting on a branch, nibbling on a piece of fruit he had expertly stolen from the pocket of an inattentive tourist.
"Morning, Benny! What's on today's agenda?" I replied with a mischievous glint in my eye.
"Well, I heard there's a new group of tourists coming up the trail. Perfect timing for Operation Banana Peel," Benny said with a grin.
Operation Banana Peel was one of my favorite pranks. It involved placing banana peels strategically along the path to the viewing area to ensure people had a slippery time. I love the surprised and laughing looks on their faces, and the group always had a blast watching the chaos unfold.
As they made their way to the best prank spot, I spotted a group of kids eagerly pointing and chattering. Perfect targets. I quickly got to work, placing the peels with the precision of a seasoned prankster.
"Ready, Benny?" I asked, barely able to contain my excitement.
"Ready as always, Jimmy," Benny replied, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
The first tourist to see the peels, better said not see, was a portly man with a camera around his neck. He stepped on a peel and in a comically exaggerated way his feet flew out from under him. He landed on his backside with a loud thud and the children burst into fits of giggles. Jimmy and Benny high-fived each other and basked in the success of their plan.
But the fun wasn't over yet. Next came a woman wearing a large sun hat and a colorful scarf. She stepped on a peel, flailed her arms wildly and just managed to regain her balance to avoid falling. Her near-miss drew applause from the crowd and she bowed theatrical and joined in the spectacle.
Throughout the day, Benny and I continued our comedic antics. We stole hats, swiped snacks and even took a few selfies. Each prank was met with laughter and applause and I was proud to bring joy to the visitors of Monkey Mountain.
As the sun set and cast long shadows across the forest, Benny and I climbed to our favorite spot high up in the trees. From our vantage point we could see people coming down the path, chatting excitedly about their encounters with the mischievous macaques and complaining to the wardens.
"Another successful day, don't you think?" said Benny, leaning against the tree trunk.
"Absolutely," I replied with a satisfied smile on my face. "I wouldn't trade this life for anything. We are the kings of Monkey Mountain!"
With that we prepared for the night, the sounds of the forest lulling us to sleep. And as I fell asleep I couldn't help but dream of the pranks and adventures that awaited us tomorrow. After all, life as a Barbary macaque on the monkey mountain was never boring – and I particularly liked it."
Behind the Border Science: The Ape in Us All 🙈🙉🙊
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Have you ever caught yourself flinging your morning coffee in a fit of rage? Or perhaps you've pondered the urge to climb the nearest tree when your boss sends yet another "urgent" email? Well, fear not, for today we celebrate the striking similarities between us, humans, and our furry ape cousins.
Banana Republics:
Both humans and apes love a good power struggle. Office politics or jungle hierarchies, it's all about who's got the biggest... desk.
Physical Comedy:
Humans and apes share over 98% of their DNA. No wonder your gym buddy sometimes looks like he’s swinging from the monkey bars. Those opposable thumbs? Primed for both climbing trees and typing out sarcastic newsletters.
Behavioral jokes:
Have you ever caught yourself brushing your partner's hair for fun? Monkeys do it too, but it's called bonding, not hair-splitting. And those warm hugs? Monkeys hug just like we do after a long day of... well, being human.
Tool Time:
While you struggle with assembling that IKEA table, remember: apes use sticks to fish out termites. We're all just trying to get a good meal.
Communication Skills:
From dramatic hand gestures to expressive faces, both humans and apes know the value of non-verbal cues. After all, nothing says "I'm done with this meeting" like a well-timed sigh and eye roll.
Love for Sweets:
Apes love fruit, we love fruit-flavored candy. Different forms, same sweet tooth. Both humans and apes have cravings for sweets and occasional food cravings.
But monkeys are superior to men in this: when a monkey looks into a mirror, he sees a monkey.
So next time you're feeling a little prim, remember: It's all in the family!
Until next time, stay cheeky!
The Beyond Borders Team 🐒🧬
Let's turn back time a few hours. When we arrived at the monkey mountain, there were still a good 40 minutes to go before the heavy wooden entrance gate was opened for visitors. But we were able to watch the storks sitting on their nesting places on all the surrounding roofs. Then I remembered a story from my childhood that I started to told Huayna. Let's turn back time again, but this time six decades:
Jürgens Story:
"When I was a little cute child, my world revolved around animals. No matter which ones, big and small. My "research place" was the stony, sandy parking lot in the four-story apartment building where my dad and mom lived with me on the top floor. Every free minute - I only had free minutes back then - I spent in my self-proclaimed research area.
There were, for example, two small colonies of ants, the smaller black ones and the slightly larger red ones, who actually got along well with each other, unless they happened to run into each other while looking for food. Then began always a bitter fight.
Our border with the house next door was a wire fence, so to speak, which was uninteresting, except for the fact that small spiders were weaving their little masterpiece in a fascinating way with quick, precise movements. Then they would hide and lurk in a corner and wait with incredible patience until a stupid mosquito got tangled up in it.
I knew every stone under which the funny woodlice and the harmless, but frightening earwigs had their shelters.
When I was four years old, I was given my first book. Everyone in my family and relatives knew that I was very close to animals. And I opened the huge book with great pride, full of great animal pictures. These were not printed pictures, but glued-in fantastic color photos with illustrations of the animal kingdom from all over the world.
I was particularly fascinated by the variety of African mammals. I'll spare you the trouble of listing them, but I knew them all. Now what does that have to do with the storks at the monkey mountain?
In early morning sitting in a comfortable TV chair in the living room waiting for a broadcast repeat of my favorite TV-show at the time, "Grzimek's Animal Life," which I never missed. Bernhard Grzimek's regular television shows made him nationally known and popular since the end of the 1950s. But before the show began, a cartoon was shown with a stork bringing a child to childless parents, who gave him a warm hug and were delighted. As if struck by lightning, I ran excitedly to my mom and asked:
"Mom, do the storks bring babies?"
And mom nodded with a serious expression and answered my question in the affirmative. "You just have to put a sugar cube on the windowsill and wait a while. Then a stork will come and bring a little brother or a little sister!"
I stood there with my mouth open and looked at mom in disbelief, while all the brain cells in my little head were working at full speed and already hatching an elaborate plan. Mom has to go to work soon and I'm hopping impatiently from one foot to the other. Time passed as slowly as sugary honey. Then the front door finally closed, the lock turned twice with a clicking sound and I heard Mom's steady steps who slowly moved away down the stairs.
Time to act!!! And you probably think I'm going to run to our large two-door kitchen cupboard and take a sugar cube out of the sugar bowl? Far from it, my friend! I've already explained to you in detail about my love of Africa and its wildlife! So I broke off a small piece of delicious Swiss Suchard milk chocolate and put it on the windowsill, where there are usually only old bread crumbs that I leave for the funny sparrows and cooing pigeons.
A little brother or sister from Africa, that would be fantastic! Since the storks migrate from Europe to Africa before the onset of winter, and came back in in spring my plan is actually very logical and practical.
As I mentioned, we lived on the fourth floor and from the window I could see the facade of the neighboring apartment building, a good fifteen meters away. No problem for the White Stork to landing. I hid behind the white window curtain and waited for the powerful rustling sound of stork wings. I've always had patience.
That was early in the morning, now the late afternoon was already beginning - and nothing. Maybe the sweet offering is too small!? I'll try again another day. I opened the window a little so that I could grab the delicious piece of chocolate with my skinny little arms and let it linger on my tongue."
The belief that storks bring children originates from various cultural myths and folklore, primarily in Europe. The story is especially popular in countries like Germany and Scandinavia. Several factors contribute to this myth:
1. **Stork Behavior**: Storks are migratory birds that return to Europe in the spring, coinciding with the traditional season of fertility and birth in many cultures. Their arrival was often seen as a symbol of renewal and new beginnings.
2. **Nesting Habits**: Storks often nest on rooftops and chimneys, which are close to human dwellings. This proximity to human homes made them seem like natural bearers of human babies.
3. **Mythological Stories**: In German and Scandinavian folklore, there are tales of storks finding babies in caves or marshes and delivering them to families. These stories often include the stork dropping the baby down the chimney, which is where the modern image of storks delivering babies comes from.
4. **Symbolism of Storks**: Storks have long been associated with family and domesticity. In ancient mythologies, they were often seen as symbols of good luck, fidelity, and parental care, further enhancing their association with childbirth and family.
5. **Literary Influence**: Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Storks," published in the 19th century, also played a role in popularizing the idea of storks delivering babies. His story helped cement this image in the popular imagination.
These elements combined over time to create the enduring and charming myth of storks bringing children.
"If you are adventurous, you can now discover our Barbary macaques at a height of 12 meters. 11 suspension bridges and 12 platforms lead you along a 250m long treetop walk through our hundred years old beech forest."
Quoted from the official page from Affenberg Salem.
Behind Borders Profi Tips for Treewalk
Stupid Things You Don’t Do on a Treewalk!
Climb the Tree Naked:
Bark and leaves do not make for a comfortable outfit. Plus, no one wants to see your bare butt getting splinters.
Challenge a Squirrel to a Duel:
Those little guys are cute until they start hurling acorns at your face. And trust me, they don’t fight fair.
Taste -Test Every Berry:
Some berries are delicious, others will have you praying to the porcelain god. Unless you have a death wish, leave the berry buffet alone.
Try to Communicate with the Trees:
Talking to trees might seem zen, but yelling “Speak to me, O ancient oak!” just makes you look like you skipped your meds.
Bring a Picnic for the Insects:
Ants, mosquitoes, and bees do not need an invitation to your outdoor buffet. They will come, they will eat, and they will leave you itchy and swollen.
Whistle at Birds Like They're Construction Workers:
Birds are not going to catcall you back. They’re just going to poop on your head for being obnoxious.
Forget to Look Where You’re Going:
Admiring the canopy is great until you face-plant into a low branch or step in a pile of something unidentifiable.
Bring a Boombox and Blast Death Metal:
Trees might have a lot of rings, but this noise will stop them to grow. Keep the death metal for the gym.
Mistake Poison Ivy for a Lovely Vine:
That three-leaved beauty isn’t an accessory. It's a dermatological disaster only waiting that that someone comes too close to them.
Carve Your Initials in the Trunk:
If you want to declare your love, buy a card. Trees don’t want your romantic graffiti scarring them for life. The tree is still alive, even if your marriage has long since completely broken down.
Do Yoga on a Branch:
Impressing your Instagram followers with tree yoga is great until gravity teaches you a painful lesson.
Watch the video in full screen here!
Monkey fan? Merge deeper: Barbary Macaque
You liked the Monkey Mountain in Salem? Visit their website (German, English and French), there you can follow them on the social medias, like YouTube.
You have also to know about Bernhard Grzimek
Published:15/09/2024
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