Mammals
Birds
Amphibians
Reptiles
Meet our troop of pink-bottomed, punk-haired monkeys
Find our cheeky family of Sulawesi crested black macaques in their home nestled between the orangutans and flamingo valley. Our troop never fails to put a smile on visitors’ faces.
The family have big personalities that can be seen in their facial expressions and mischievous behaviour, and if you spot them smacking their lips they are simply saying hello!
Animal facts
Key facts about the Sulawesi crested black macaque
I'm found in Sulawesi in Indonesia
Sulawesi crested black macaques live in the rainforest, spending most of their time on the ground but sleeping in the trees.
My favourite food is fruit
These macaques mostly eat fruit and plants, but will also eat insects and bird eggs.
I'm critically endangered
Habitat loss and hunting are the main threats to this species.
20+
Macaque species
70+
Bred at Jersey Zoo
150
Types of fruit eaten in wild
Hunted to the brink of extinction
In Sulawesi, crested black macaques are considered a delicacy and are often served for food during special occasions.
Such ruthless hunting, coupled with the ongoing destruction of their natural habitat for housing and farming, has pushed the wild population to the edge of extinction – so much so that the Sulawesi crested black macaque is listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List.
A successful breeding programme helps safeguard their future
Jersey Zoo's first crested black macaque arrived in 1963 and the first breeding success was in 1971. Since then, around 70 have been bred and the group 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 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.
Help us care for our macaques