Sulawesi Macaque

The Sulawesi Macaque (Macaca nigra), also known as the crested black macaque or the Celebes ape, is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to hunting and the clearing of their native habitat, sometimes even taken when very young as pets by the local population.

The Sulawesi Macaque is found in Indonesia on the Sulawesi island, Bacan island, and on the shores of the Philippeans. They are mainly found in the trees in tropical rainforest areas, although they will often venture to the coastal areas on a hunt for food. These macaques live in family groups, usually led by a dominant female. In these groups, there are usually about three times as many females as males, and the females are permanent members of the groups, while the males will often switch from group to group. They are very social and will often spend much of the day grooming one another. Males are competitive, fighting with each other for dominance in the group. It is estimated that there are approximately 144,000 living in the rainforests of Sulawesi.

Interesting Fact: The children of dominant females in the group are given preference and standing in each family group.

Sulawesi Macaques are covered with black hair that mixes with white on their shoulders and arms. Their most distinguishing feature is a short ruff of coarse hair on the top of the head that sticks straight up. They have relatively flat faces, very narrow, with a very prominent brow ridge and cheekbones. Adult male macaques can reach a weight of about 19-22 pounds (9-10 kg) and the females about 15 pounds (7 kg). They reach an average length of about 22 inches (56 cm) and have a very short tail with a pink rear end. They have very large canine teeth and cheek pouches that go all the way down the sides of the neck.

Sulawesi Macaques are omnivores and eat mostly fruits, eggs, insects, and flowers. When searching for food, they will often not stop to eat but instead will fill their cheek pouches first and then stop once they are full and eat. Unfortunately, they often have to raid farms to find food, and this often gets them killed.

Females reach sexual maturity between three and five years of age, and the males are sexually mature at about four to five years old. When the female Sulawesi Macaque is ready to mate, her rear end will swell up and turn a brighter pink or red. Gestation lasts about 162-186 days, and the babies are born one for each pregnancy. Their eyes are closed at birth, but they open in only about two hours. The babies are nursed for at least a year after birth, clinging to their mother’s chests. Male macaques are interested in the babies while they are still very young but lose interest, while the females will care for the offspring for their entire lives. They usually live about 18 years.

Sulawesi Macaques have many ways of communicating. They will often call to one another, show their teeth, and smack their lips together. They are also able to move their ruffs of hair to show emotion and to communicate. They have been known to greet each other by sniffing each other’s rear ends and embracing.