Skip to Content

Monkey Shoots Some Hoops with a Melon

monkey plays basketball with melon
© ViralHog/YouTube

Monkey see monkey do – perhaps this monkey that plays basketball has watched a Michael Jordan game or two?

Monkey saved
Image of monkey by Cottonbro Studio via Pexels

Candy has captured attention and admiration, but not for typical primate antics. Instead, he’s famous for a unique talent that blurs the lines between human sportsmanship and animal dexterity.

Using a watermelon as his basketball, Candy’s prowess on the “court” offers a captivating glimpse into the cognitive depths of primates.

Let’s take a closer look!

Key Points

  • Candy the Monkey showcases basketball skills using a watermelon.
  • His actions highlight primates’ cognitive depth and adaptability.
  • Dexterity in monkeys ensures survival and strengthens social bonds.

Monkey Plays Basketball With Watermelon: A Display of Unparalleled Skill

Spider monkey
Female Panama spider monkey. Image via Steven G. Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In the bustling city of Bien Hoa, located in the Dong Nai province of Vietnam, lives an impressive monkey, named Candy.

With the agility and precision of a professional basketball player, Candy played basketball using a watermelon. This extraordinary feat was not just a random act of play but a testament to the intelligence and adaptability of primates.

The Prodigy: Candy the Monkey That Plays Basketball

YouTube video
“Monkey Plays Basketball with Watermelon||ViralHog” Source: YouTube, Uploaded: ViralHog

Candy is not your average monkey. Described as one of the smartest monkeys ever witnessed, his skills in playing basketball are unparalleled.

It’s not just about throwing a ball (or in this case, a watermelon) into a hoop; it’s about understanding the dynamics, calculating the trajectory, and executing the action with precision.

For Candy, it seemed almost instinctual. The way he dribbled the watermelon, aimed, and shot it toward the hoop was reminiscent of the professional basketball players we see on TV.

The Significance of Play

Two Geoffroy’s Spider Monkeys walking together. This primate is also referred to as black-handed spider monkey or Ateles geoffroyi. Image via depositphotos.

While it might seem like a fun and entertaining act, Candy’s ability to play basketball holds deeper significance.

Play, in the animal kingdom, is not just a leisure activity. It is a means of learning, adapting, and honing skills. For primates, especially, play is a crucial aspect of their cognitive development. It aids in building motor skills, understanding cause and effect, and even in social bonding.

Candy’s basketball skills illustrate monkeys’ capacity to learn, adapt, and even innovate. Using a watermelon as a basketball is an innovative act in itself. It shows adaptability and the ability to use available resources in new and unique ways.

Dexterity In Monkeys: Crucial For Survival

monkey hand
Image by Syed Ahmad via Unsplash

Primates’ impressive dexterity is what allows them to show off basketball skills like Candy.

Other than basketball skills, their dexterity is what enables them to imitate countless human activities (providing us with endless amounts of cute videos.) However, there’s way more important reasons behind their dexterous hands.

This dexterity allows them to deftly navigate dense forest canopies, swiftly grasping branches to avoid predators. Moreover, their nimble fingers excel in foraging, skillfully extracting insects from crevices or peeling fruits.

This tactile prowess also plays a role in social bonding, as grooming strengthens troop unity.

Monkey Plays Basketball With Melon: Wrapping Up

White Cheeked Spider Monkey
White-cheeked spider monkey (Ateles marginatus) in Sorocaba Zoo. Image via Miguelrangeljr, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This monkey’s basketball prowess with a watermelon transcends mere entertainment, shedding light on the profound cognitive abilities of primates.

His actions underscore the significance of play in skill development, adaptability, and social cohesion. Beyond the court, the dexterity exhibited by monkeys like Candy is a testament to their amazing evolutionary adaptions.

Their skills, whether in a forest or on a makeshift basketball court, are truly unparalleled.

Thank you for reading this article about a monkey that plays basketball!