If you’re struggling to get to the gym, here’s a motivational buff monkey for you, whose frame is sure to cross-species body-shame you into the weights room.
Meet Bea. She’s the leader of a white-faced saki troop at Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki, Finland.
When she came face-to-face with the camera of photographer Santeri Oksanen, Bea turned to her best side and channeled some action movie greats for her close-up.
Bea is part of a species of the New World saki monkey, who usually live in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.
They’re known for their ability to effortlessly swing from tree-to-tree, but also spend time foraging on the forest floors for food.
The monogamous male monkeys tend to be about 500 grams heavier than the females – but that’s not holding Bea back one bit, says Oksanen, who couldn’t believe how big her frame looked.
The 34-year-old photographer said:
I couldn’t believe the huge muscles that the monkey had. The other monkeys were very small in comparison, they all looked a bit scared of her.
The pictures make it look like it’s competing in a bodybuilding contest.
Less of a contest, more of a wipe-out, actually, Oksanen.
But, her zoo keepers pointed out on Twitter Bea’s buff build isn’t down to muscle mass, saying:
Looks like she’s in a bad mood and does a good job making herself look bigger. Not by muscles but by it’s fur. Impressive, something we humans can’t do.
She’s in good shape but those are not her muscles. She’s showing off with her fur and fierce frown.
Needless to say, The Internet Jury has found it’s new favourite buff exotic creature.
Bea has now even had the meme treatment, with some members of Fitness Twitter taking a shine to her fluffy frame.
While some have said the South American native would make great ‘workout goals’ others have wondered how much she could bench.
Of her newfound fame, a spokesperson from the zoo said:
I think she was quite pleased with it! And the fame as the most muscular monkey in the world. After all, she is the boss and wanted to show it. Muscles or fur – minor detail.
I don’t think there’s any arguing with that – you likely wouldn’t win the fight anyway.
If you have an animal story you want to tell, share it with UNILAD via stories@unilad.co.uk.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.