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Sulawesi Crested Macaque
Our troop of Sulawesi crested macaques live at Monkey Heights.
As well as through facial expressions and vocal calls, these charismatic primates communicate with each other by raising and lowering the crest on the top of their head.
Class:
Mammals
Order:
Primates
Family:
Cercopithecidae
About the Sulawesi crested macaque
Known locally as yaki, this macaque is native to the tropical forests and mangrove swamps of the Tangkoko reserve on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. They are completely covered in fur, apart from their pink heart-shaped bottom!
Most of this species’ diet consists of fruit, but they also consume seeds, leaves, insects and even small birds.
After 6 months of gestation, a female macaque gives birth to a single infant that she cares for over a full year.
Conservation
These macaques are hunted for bushmeat and face threats due to being perceived as pests in their native range. Forest clearance also further threatens the survival of this Critically Endangered species in the wild.
The Sulawesi crested macaques at Paignton Zoo are important members of the EAZA ex-situ breeding programme (EEP), which has been successful within zoos over the past few years.