Monkey Madness I is the fourth quest in the gnome quest series, and one of the most well-known quests in RuneScape. The quest brings the player to Ape Atoll, an island inhabited by civilised but unfriendly and high-level monkeys, in order to help Narnode Shareen track down his missing 10th Squad military unit.
A grandmaster-difficulty sequel to the quest called Monkey Madness II was released on 6 May 2016.
Ape Atoll is one of the most dangerous areas in the game. All native creatures other than the level 5 birds will be aggressive towards you, regardless of your combat level, whenever youre not wearing the monkey greegree made later in the quest. Players can hug the coasts of Ape Atoll when moving to avoid the poisonous snakes and spiders; some snakes may still be encountered this way, but players can simply wait for them to move.
When going to the island, make sure to bring plenty of food, antipoison potions, and an emergency teleport, in addition to any other required items. Switching off Auto Retaliate and utilising protection prayers will greatly improve your chances of survival.
At any point, you can teleport or flee from Ape Atoll to restock items without losing your progress. To leave the island by boat, simply talk to Lumdo in the landing area to go from Ape Atoll back to Crash Island, and then talk to Waydar on Crash Island to go back to the Tree Gnome Stronghold. To resume the quest, talk to Daero on the 1st floor[UK]2nd floor[US] of the Grand Tree to go back to the hangar, talk to Waydar in the hangar to go back to Crash Island, and finally, talk to Lumdo on Crash Island to return to Ape Atoll.
Monkeys falling out of trees may seem humorous at first glance, but it’s actually a disturbing event that can seriously injure or even kill these arboreal primates. As climate change and habitat loss increase, these potentially fatal falls are becoming more common for vulnerable monkey populations. Let’s examine why monkeys lose their grip, what dangers falling presents, and how we can help protect monkeys in the treetops where they belong.
Why Monkeys Fall
Monkeys are highly adapted for swinging through branches, but many factors can still cause them to fall
- Fatigue – Constant climbing tires muscles, leading to slips
- Sickness – Illness like seizures can disorient and weaken monkeys
- Heat – High temperatures exhaust and dehydrate monkeys
- Age – Elderly monkeys have poorer vision, grip and reflexes
- Injury – Previous injuries impair mobility and coordination
- Fighting – Battles with rivals lead to falls while fleeing
- Predators – Attempting to escape hawks or snakes may lead to falls
- Deforestation – Loss of habitat and canopy makes falls more likely
No matter the specific cause, monkeys plunging 20-50 feet to the ground often sustain severe injuries – if they even survive the initial impact.
Dangers of Falling
When monkeys fall from such heights they face grave health threats
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Broken Bones – Fractured limbs, spines, skulls from hitting the ground or branches on the way down.
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Concussions – Brain trauma and disorientation from high-speed falls.
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Internal Bleeding – Major organ damage and hemorrhaging can be fatal without treatment
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Paralysis – Spinal cord injuries may disable legs, arms or vital bodily functions.
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Death – Impact at high velocities often kills monkeys instantly. Even if they survive initial fall, severe untreated injuries may eventually prove fatal.
Without swift rescue and rehabilitation, most monkeys suffer immensely after falling, if they manage to live at all.
Recent Monkey Falling Incidents
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In May 2024 in Tabasco, Mexico over 100 endangered howler monkeys died from falling due to dehydration and heat exhaustion during an intense heatwave.
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In India’s Silent Valley in 2021, researchers documented 34 fallen lion-tailed macaque monkeys, primarily juveniles and elderly, due to habitat disturbance.
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During 2020’s lockdowns, monkey falls in Singapore surged as hungry monkeys ventured from diminished feeding grounds into unstable urban trees.
As climate change and deforestation continue trending upwards, experts expect more frequent monkey falls in coming years absent intervention.
Preventing Falls to Protect Monkeys
To save arboreal monkeys from perilous tumbles, some conservation steps include:
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Monitoring troops to assist injured, dehydrated or struggling monkeys before they fall.
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Providing canopy rope bridges between trees to avoid risky long jumps.
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Supporting elderly monkeys who often need extra care.
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Keeping rival troops spaciously separated to prevent conflict.
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Rescuing and rehabilitating monkeys post-fall to help them heal and eventually return to the trees.
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Preserving canopy coverage and planting new growth to maintain habitat connectivity.
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Regularly surveilling and assessing monkey populations to identify emerging threats proactively.
With proper oversight and habitat protections, we can keep monkeys safely swinging through the treetops. Falling events will still occur, but focused conservation efforts can significantly reduce their frequency and impact.
Personal Stories of Fallen Monkeys
To understand how falling affects individual monkeys, looking at real-life cases helps illustrate the harsh realities:
Rescued Baby Monkey
A two-week old macaque, likely separated from his mother, was spotted alone and hungry in a village in Thailand. While desperately seeking food, the infant tumbled from a jackfruit tree over 20 feet to the ground. Despite the dangerous fall, quick intervention by local wildlife rescuers saved the monkey’s life. Though sustaining a broken arm and concussion, after treatment he made a full recovery.
Elderly Howler’s Tumble
An older male howler monkey in Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park fell nearly 30 feet when his hand slipped grabbing between two trees. Given advanced age, his mobility was already limited before this accident. Park rangers rushed to the scene and transported him to a nearby monkey rescue center. Sadly though, the howler passed away just a day later from massive internal injuries.
Deforestation Fall Fatality
On Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, a young female orangutan was struck by a car after falling onto a roadway. Unable to cross between severely fragmented forest patches, she attempted a risky long distance jump. Though still conscious after the fall, her multiple fractures and trauma proved fatal. This heartbreaking incident highlights the dangers apes face due to extensive regional deforestation.
Climate Chaos Injures Gibbon
A white-handed gibbon in Thailand’s Chiang Mai Zoo fell over 46 feet when temperatures reached 109 Fahrenheit, leaving the ape lethargic and struggling to stay aloft in the extreme heat. Once downed, the gravely dehydrated gibbon suffered fractured legs and a dislocated shoulder. Thanks to year-round zoo veterinary care, he slowly regained health over several months in recovery. With climate change exacerbating heat waves, zoo staffers now take added precautions to protect sensitive apes on sweltering days.
Help Monkeys Continue Thriving in Trees
The natural state of arboreal monkeys is gracefully swinging through branches high in the forest canopy. But habitat loss coupled with climate change is severely jeopardizing this ancestral lifestyle. As concerned citizens, we must support conservation initiatives helping monkeys remain securely aloft in their natural treetop homes where they belong. Preserving forests and mitigating rising temperatures will give monkey populations the best chance of survival. Our actions today can let future generations continue to delight in the aerial acrobatics of monkeys in healthy habitats worldwide.
Finishing up[edit | edit source]
Once the Jungle Demon is slain, speak to Garkor, who is indicated by an arrow. He will tell you to speak to Zooknock; speak to Zooknock nearby to get the option to be teleported back to Ape Atoll. If players decline the offer and stay, they are free to explore the banana plantation, but Zooknock will leave, requiring players to speak to Bonzara instead if they want to be teleported. He can be found in the crack at the base of the statue.
- Warning: The gnomes will teleport you into the jungle on Ape Atoll. It is advised to simply teleport off of the island as quickly as possible; players wishing to stay on the island should immediately equip their greegree after being teleported by the gnomes.
Escape the island however you like, either through the main gates as a monkey, with any form of teleport, or by jumping off the bridge in the south-east part of the city, and go back to the Gnome Stronghold.
Speak with King Narnode in the Grand Tree to finish the quest.
Congratulations, quest complete!
The king will then redirect you to Daero for your training as a new 10th squad member, so go have a chat with Daero for the experience rewards.
After the quest, players retain the ability to turn into a monkey in Ape Atoll & Ardougne Zoo, using the Monkey greegree. The Jungle Demon can also now be fought in the Nightmare Zone. Note: while it was previously impossible to return to Ape Atoll after quest completion without receiving experience from Daero, an update in November 2022 now allows the training to be ignored before returning.
Chapter 3[edit | edit source]
In which our hero/heroine finds himself/herself contending with life as a monkey.
Items required: Karamjan monkey greegree, mspeak amulet, 1 free inventory space, and a method of reaching Ardougne.
In this chapter, you will be required to speak with King Awowogei and retrieve a monkey from the Ardougne Zoo. If you need to bank, you can skip to retrieving the monkey in Ardougne, and then speak with Awowogei when you return to Ape Atoll (steps 1-3).
Wield the monkey greegree to become a monkey (currently only the Karamjan monkey greegree will work for transformation). In this form, you will not be approached or attacked by any of the monkeys or wildlife on the island, and you cannot engage in combat. As a monkey, return to Garkor and speak with him; then, with the mspeak amulet equipped, talk to the Elder Guard near Garkor. The guard will tell you to speak with Kruk.
From the guard, run west until you pass the main gate into Marim and have reached the Western shore of Ape Atoll (do not exit the gate). Head slightly south and follow the ground path up the western hill, then climb up the bamboo ladder at the top and cross the bamboo bridge. Climb down the ladder on the east side and speak to Kruk. After the conversation ends, he will conveniently take you back to King Awowogei.
Speak to Awowogei and offer an alliance, and he will ask you to rescue a monkey from the Ardougne Zoo. Make sure you have an open inventory space, and then teleport out and make your way to Ardougne. Caranock, Waydar and King Awowogei plotting.
Once in Ardougne, head to the south-west corner and enter the zoo. Wield the greegree inside the zoo area to become a monkey, and then speak to the Monkey minder, who will place you in the cage. Speak with a monkey (the only one with a “Talk” option), and itll hop into your inventory; then, unequip the greegree and speak to the Monkey minder again. He will be confused and let you out. You will now need to travel by foot to the Gnome Stronghold, before climbing up to the 1st floor[UK]2nd floor[US] and talking to Daero to travel back to Ape Atoll as usual. While the monkey is in your inventory, you cannot use any form of teleportation (including random events), as doing so will remove the monkey from your inventory, requiring you to re-obtain it from the zoo.
Return to Ape Atoll, and equip your greegree and amulet to speak with Awowogei again. (If you have spoken before, simply speak to the Elder Guard to be let in; if not, refer to the section above). The monkey will automatically leave your backpack after speaking to Awowogei, and the king will consider an alliance.
Speak with Garkor to begin Chapter 4.
Monkey falls of tree and dies
Why do monkeys fall from trees?
There are several potential reasons a monkey might fall from the tree canopy Fatigue – Monkeys can simply become exhausted from constant climbing and movement in the treetops. Muscles tire and the monkey slips. Heat – Excessive heat stresses monkeys and makes them lethargic, less coordinated. Dehydration from lack of water also plays a role.
How many monkeys fell from trees?
Wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo, who counted monkeys some 138 monkeys that fell from trees, said: “They were falling out of the trees like apples. They were in a state of severe dehydration, and they died within a matter of minutes.”
Are howler monkeys dropping dead from trees in Mexico?
It’s so hot in Mexico that howler monkeys are dropping dead from trees. At least 83 of the midsized primates, who are known for their roaring vocal calls, were found dead in the Gulf coast state of Tabasco. Others were rescued by residents, including five that were rushed to a local veterinarian who fought to save them. (AP/Luis Sánchez)
Did a mantle monkey fall from a tree in Cunduacán?
Luis Sanchez/Associated Press Gilberto Pozo, a biologist, was monitoring a small forest in the town of Cunduacán, in southern Mexico, in early May when two mantled howler monkeys fell from a tree in front of him with a thud. “They were dehydrated and received treatment,” he said.
How can we protect arboreal monkeys from fatal falls?
For animal caretakers and those involved in conservation, actions can be taken to protect arboreal monkeys from potentially fatal falls: Provide water sources in habitats to prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration. Offer fruit/nut supplementation to compensate for reduced food from deforestation.
What happened to a howler monkey?
A howler monkey sits inside a cage with others at a veterinarian clinic after they were rescued amid extremely high temperatures in Tecolutilla, Tabasco state, Mexico, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Dozens of howler monkeys were found dead in the Gulf coast state while others were rescued by residents who rushed them to a local veterinarian.