TOQUE MACAQUE

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Context

Sri Lanka’s agriculture minister has asked officials to study China’s request to procure toque macaques. They want these monkeys for their zoo.

About Toque Macaque

• The Toque Macaque is a commonly found monkey in Sri Lanka.
• The Sri Lankan Toque Macaques (Macaca sinica) are the smallest species of Macaca, a golden-brown coloured monkey, endemic to Sri Lanka.
• Locally known as the “Rilawa”, it is easily distinguished by the toque-shaped swirl of hair on the top of its head, with the amount of hair on the top of the head being geographically variable within their range.

Species

• There are three recognised subspecies of Toque Macaque; dry zone Toque Macaque (M.s. sinica), wet zone Toque Macaque (M.s. aurifrons) and the highland Toque Macaque (M.s. opisthomelas).
• They live in troops, sometimes numbering up to 20 members, the dry zone subspecies has earned the nickname “temple monkey” as they are commonly sighted in the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, where many ancient monuments including temples are situated.
• This subspecies has been the subject of one of the longest behavioural studies of any primate species conducted in the world.

Physical Description

• Physical characteristics of the Toque Macaque vary depending on their habitat.
• They have a golden brown coat on their top surface and white hair on their underside.
• Average body length is 35-53cm and tail length is around 40-60cm.

Biology

• They are diurnal terrestrial quadrupeds, and spend much of their time moving on the ground.
• They are equally agile on the trees, where they sleep, sometimes huddled together.
• The toque macaques can also swim proficiently, and may even hide underwater when escaping predators.
• Toque Macaques are omnivorous and like to eat fruit, seeds, nuts, mushrooms and occasionally reptiles and birds.

Habitat and Distribution

• The Toque Macaque can be found in a variety of forest types, at altitudes up to about 2100 m, depending on the subspecies.
• Toque Macaques are also very well known to raid crops and garbage dumps and are not often frightened away by close encounters with humans.

Threats and Conservation

• The major threat to these species is extreme habitat loss and habitat fragmentation due to development and urbanisation.
• This decreasing species is currently endangered on the IUCN Red List and is protected internationally under CITES Appendix II.
• However, enjoys very little protection as it is considered to be a pest to crops such as coconut etc.

https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/cash-strapped-sri-lanka-considers-exporting-1-lakh-endangered-monkeys-to-china-1209272.html