At Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary we have three species of Macaque: Crab Eating Macaque, Japanese Macaque and Rhesus Macaque.
Macaques are old World monkeys and after man are the most widely distributed primate, ranging from Afghanistan to Japan. The famous Barbary Apes on the Rock of Gibralter are Macaques. These and some other Macaques have no tail and are erroneously referred to as apes, whereas all are true monkeys and are not closely related to true apes.
Macaques have an intricate social structure which recognises different levels of status.They submit to other Macaques of a higher social standing.
A higher ranking monkey is even allowed to remove food from the mouth of a lower ranking member of the troop without an argument ensuing.
They live in troops which may contain several hundred animals, although several dozen is more common. Troops are likely to consists of three or four females to every male. In this respect they are similar to Baboons, to whom they are closely related.
Rhesus macaques are noted for their tendency to move from rural to urban areas, coming to rely on handouts or refuse from humans. They have become a pest in some areas, particularly in India, and are often perceived as a possible risk to public health and safety. They are excellent swimmers and like to enter water.
Most Macaques are diurnal, sleeping by night and foraging by day. They are both arboreal and terrestrial, and mostly herbivorous, feeding on leaves, pine needles, roots, and the occasional insect or small animal. They have specialized pouch-like cheeks, allowing them to temporarily hoard their food.
Their main predators are birds of prey, dogs, weasels, leopards, tigers, sharks, crocodiles, and snakes.
The perfect gift for animal lovers, why not adopt a Macaque Monkey
Animal adoption is a great way to support Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary, lasts all year and makes for a lovely treat or gift. Treat yourself or buy as a gift for the animal lover in your life.
Here are some of the characters that you will see on your visit to Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary.
In the wild Macaque Monkeys eat any plant or any insect that they find. Japanese Macaques have to store fat to survive the winter when only dead leaves and bark are available. Here at the sanctuary they eat seeds, nuts, fruits, salad and vegetables. Their favourite foods are tomatoes and cucumbers.
The sanctuary rescues and provides a home for many types of unwanted animals, especially primates, such as chimpanzees, gibbons, baboons, spider monkeys, vervets, capuchins, tamarins, macaques and marmosets.
Although we specialise in the care and protection of primates we cannot stand by and see other animals in need of help. You will therefore find meerkats, wolf dogs, horses, donkeys, pigs and others at our sanctuary. All are equally important members of our extended family.