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Sulawesi
macaques...
Sulawesi has 7 different
macaque species, each occupying rather small ranges across
the island. Why there is little overlap or direct
competition for food is a mystery to me.
My friend and guide for the trip was the first and principal
researcher of the macaques of Sulawesi helping to habituate
many troups of animals both in Buton Island and elsewhere.
Buton
macaque Macaca ochreata brunnescens
Buton Island lies at the
extreme south-eastern tip of Sulawesi. Here is found
a variant of the common Booted macaque of the Sulawesi mainland,
often taken to be a subspecies.
Here we can see the distinguishing
pale "boots" of the macaque. These macaques live in
rainforest habitat, with home ranges of only a square kilometre
or two. Group sizes are quite small at around 20 individuals,
but where these monkeys are exploiting farm crops within
villages, their numbers swell to double this or more.
Here, a mature male is
attempting to steal coconuts....
and here it's sweet potato.
Here, a mature male is
trapped in a snare for its sins, destined to become bushmeat
(although for a packet of cigarettes costing £0.20, I got
this one released).
Crested
black macaque
Macaca nigra
An amazingly photogenic
endemic species of macaque confined to the volcanic dry
tropical forest in the far north of Sulawesi. Large troupes
exist here, often 50 or more strong.
They are very gregarious,
devoting a large part of their time to grooming and socialising.
The youngsters are always
playing.
They spend a lot of time
on the forest floor moving between fruiting trees such as
fig.
Larger fruits such a Jack
Fruits don't present much of a challenge as these animals
have enormous canine teeth!
Very large teeth....but
for eating fruit? .
Maybe for fighting?
Disputes often break out but are short lived. None
of the crowd seem impressed by this - no teeth!
That's better. Some
of the macaques get quite interested in cameras.
Others think it's a howl.
David J Slater meets the inhabitants of the Sulawesi rainforest
back to Sulawesi
Gallery
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