Sulawesi crested macaques in Europe

N

Norwegian moose

Well-Known Member
Does anybody now how the population of sulawesi or celebes crested black macaques are doing in Europe. I ask so because only 30 zoos have them in Europe, and they are being phased out in North American zoos. Are they difficult to keep or to obtain or something, because they are so beautifull, being the only totally black macaques so I wonder why not more zoos have them. Although there are many more zoos in Europe holding Sulawesi crested macaques than there are in North America. Strangely enough The United Kingdom have many more zoos with black macaques than any other country, with 11 zoos holding the species, including Jersey.

I also much prefer to use the name sulawesi instead of celebes, since the island have changed name a long time ago.

I am also proud that my own country Norway have Sulawesi crested macaques. Although they are kept in a small mini-zoo with mostly very common animal species known as Amadeusparken.

Here is a list of zoos in Europe holding Sulawesi crested macaques from Zootierliste:
Current Holdings:

Germany:
Darmstadt (Vivarium)
Gettorf (Tierpark)
Hamm (Tierpark)

Number: 3
other EAZA countries:

Belgium:
Antwerpen (Zoo)
Cambron-Casteau (Pairi Daiza - vormals Parc Paradisio)

Czech Republic:
Decin (Zoo)

France:
Hermival les Vaux (CERZA Lisieux)

Ireland:
Dublin (Zoo)

Israel:
Kefar-Daniel (Monkey Park)
Ramat Gan (Zoological Center Tel-Aviv)

Netherlands:
Amsterdam (Natura Artis Magistra)
Rotterdam (Diergaarde Blijdorp)

Norway:
Tangen (Amadeus-Parken)

Poland:
Warszawa (Zoo)
Wroclaw (Zoo)

Sweden:
Boras (Djurpark)
Färjestaden (Ölands Djurpark)

Turkey:
Izmir (Zoo)

UK/England:
Alfriston (Drusillas Zoo Park)
Bekesbourne (Howletts Wild Animal Park)
Chester (Zoo)
Dalton-in-Furness (South Lakes Wild Animal Park)
Dudley (Zoo)
Filby (Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens)
London (Zoo)
Newquay (Zoo)
Paignton (Zoo)
Winchester (Marwell Zoo)

UK/Jersey:
Trinity (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust)

Ukraine:
Kharkov (Zoo)

Number: 27
Total number: 30
 
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They seem to be doing well in the British Isles, where they are by some distance the most widely-kept macaque species and and there are pretty regular births. Not sure how the genetics are underlying that though.
 
Middle-sized old world monkeys are simply out of fashion, like most macaques, mangabeys and guenons. Very few species got EEP status and those will likely persist in Europe, the rest is on its way out. Which is sad. Macaques &Co., together with large cats, used to the backbone of practically all smaller zoos for centuries, the biggest crowd favorites.
 
Norwegian moose said:
Strange enough The United Kingdom have many more zoos with black macaques than any other country, with 11 zoos holding the species, including Jersey.
I wasn't aware the UK had more holders of this species than elsewhere in Europe- probably because I've never looked... They certainly seem fairly ubiquitous here and as Maguari says- freely breeding too. One of the first holders was Jersey where I saw an already large group of about 20 back in the 1980's. Nowadays I think they have far less. Whether the other UK groups stem from Jersey, or from other sources too, I don't know. Nowadays Chester have the largest group probably. Most zoos keeping them have breeding groups except maybe Newquay and Alfriston who have/had just males- though Alfriston may now have females also. There have been recent moves between Paignton-Dudley to promote breeding in Dudley's small group.
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Pertinax said:
There have been recent moves between Paignton-Dudley to promote breeding in Dudley's small group.
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To be fair Dudley's tend to breed quite readily, they always seem to have a baby or two when I visit. I think that Paignton had a youngster when I last visited as well.
Didn't realise that Newquay only held none-breeders, I remember their signage proudly proclaiming their animals were part of the EEP?
 
Brum said:
Didn't realise that Newquay only held none-breeders, I remember their signage proudly proclaiming their animals were part of the EEP?
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I could be wrong there. They did used to have a breeding group but I think they were shifted to Paignton (same ownership as Newquay) when their new 'Monkey Heights' Primate enclosures were built and the old ex Bear circular Newquay enclosure now has, probably, only surplus males. I am not sure if I'm correct however. I agree they are pretty free breeders everywhere. I only mentioned Paignton/Dudley as an example of ongoing efforts to continue breeding them at Dudley with new genetics added.
 
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Pertinax said:
I could be wrong there. They did used to have a breeding group but I think they were shifted to Paignton (same ownership as Newquay) when their new 'Monkey Heights' Primate enclosures were built and the old ex Bear circular Newquay enclosure now has, probably, only surplus males. I am not sure if I'm correct however. I agree they are pretty free breeders everywhere. I only mentioned Paignton/Dudley as an example of ongoing efforts to continue breeding them at Dudley with new genetics added.
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That could be right with regards to Newquay/Paignton, it would make sense to keep a bachelor group at one site and breeders at another.
 
Newquay has been breeding from their group for several years now, having previously held a bachelor group. Yes they probably are saying they are proud to participate in this EEP. You don,t have to be breeding a species to be part of an EEP. Holding single sexed groups is just as important to some individual programmes. Newquay is also supporting the conservation project in Sulawesi
 
In the end of 2012 there were 86.120.5 Sulawesi crested macaques in captivity. 92% know parentage.
 
Sulawesi crested macaque. How clear is the status of species, subspecies. Maybe a debate is going on about the different macaque species originating from Sulawesi. That could be a point of phasing out.
 
john said:
Sulawesi crested macaque. How clear is the status of species, subspecies. Maybe a debate is going on about the different macaque species originating from Sulawesi. That could be a point of phasing out.
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john, nope … the Sulawesi crested is a valid species. They do occur - albeit accidentally introduced on Bacan, a S.E. Asian island in the Moluccas archipelago - in good numbers. On northern Sulawesi itself it is alas critically endangered and having lost 80% of its former habitat. Formerly, there was a hybridization contact zone with another Sulawesi macaque species Macaca nigriscens further to the west. But that contact zone seems to have been lost now.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
john, nope … the Sulawesi crested is a valid species. They do occur - albeit accidentally introduced on Bacan, a S.E. Asian island in the Moluccas archipelago - in good numbers. On northern Sulawesi itself it is alas critically endangered and having lost 80% of its former habitat. Formerly, there was a hybridization contact zone with another Sulawesi macaque species Macaca nigriscens further to the west. But that contact zone seems to have been lost now.
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How valid or pure is the species status in captivity? Europe, UK, USA?
 
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