Sulawesi crested macaque at Paignton Zoo, Devon
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
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.
Most of this species’ diet consists of fruit but they also consume fruits, seeds, leaves, insects and small birds.
Conservation
These macaques are hunted for bushmeat and for being pests in their native range. Forest clearance also further threatens the survival of this Critically Endangered species in the wild.
Wild Planet Trust, our parent charity, works with the Selamatkan Yaki! conservation project to raise awareness and take practical measures to protect this monkey in the wild. The Sulawesi crested macaques at Paignton Zoo are also important members of the EAZA ex-situ breeding programme (EEP), which has been successful within zoos over the past few years.