Sulawesi crested macaques have cheek pouches that they stuff with food which can be eatten later, in a safe place!
They are one of seven species of macaque, that are endemic to Sulawesi Island, in Indonesia. They are medium-sized monkeys that are sometimes mistaken as Apes, because their tail is so short and hard to see. Their bodies are covered in black, shiny hair, except for their rear ends, which have no fur and are pink in colour.
Sulawesi crested macaques are diurnal primates that like to spend their day foraging on the forest floor. They are very social animals that live in large groups consisting of an Alpha male, multiple breeding females and their offspring. Grooming is an important behaviour, that occurs between group members, which helps to maintain strong bonds as well as aiding in parasite removal.
The Sulawesi crested macaque play a critical role in the ecosystem, that they inhabit. By eating fruits, they carry out seed dispersal therefore contributing to the healthy growth of plants in the rain forest.
Size: Adult males can easily be distinguished from females as they are almost double in size and weigh up to 10kg.