Sulawesi crested black macaque

Scientific Name: Macaca nigra Animal Type: Mammal Location: Northern Peninsula on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Conservation Status: Endangered

Profile

 

These pink-bottomed, punk-haired monkeys are the most endangered of the seven macaque species that live on the island of Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) in Indonesia. The main threat to their survival is over-hunting for food – they are served up as a delicacy on special occasions such as weddings. The all too common problem of habitat loss to humans for farming and housing puts additional pressure on the macaque population.

Durrell’s first black macaque arrived in Jersey in 1963 and the first breeding success was in 1971. Since then around 70 have been bred and the colony here continues to make a valuable contribution to a breeding programme that was launched to help save a species in trouble. The carefully managed captive population, built up over the years by a number of institutions working together, will safeguard the species from extinction, should the worst happen in the wild. It could also provide macaques for reintroduction to areas where they have been eradicated, should the local education programme successfully change attitudes towards hunting.

Factsheets

• Macaque factsheet (55 kb)

Video

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