Barbary Macaque

Barbary Macaque at Wingham Wildlife Park

Barbary Macaque Natural History

Size

This animal reaches a height of approximately 30 inches and can weigh up to 13 kg.

Habitat and Distribution

With their small population in Gibraltar this is the only primate with a free living range in Europe. It can also be found in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco. Throughout this range it favours living in various forest habitats.

Age

In captivity they will usually live for around 20 years.

Diet

This is mostly a vegetarian primate feeding on leaves and roots, while also foraging for nuts, berries, shoots and other fruits. However they will also feed on small amounts of invertebrates, eggs and small animals.

Groups and Breeding

These matriarchal (female led) animals live in groups of between 10 to 30 individuals. These groups have very strong social bonds which could be due to every individual in the group participating in rearing, playing with and grooming the young. Unlike most other macaques the males of this species will spend a lot of time with their offspring, as well as the offspring of others in the group. it has been known for twins to be born to a female however generally only 1 baby is born, after a gestation of 147 to 192 days.

Threats

This primate faces a vast number of threats which has led to it being classed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2008, with an estimated wild population of only between 12,000 and 20,000 left. This species is under threat because of deforestation, hunting & pest control and extensive collection to sell in the illegal pet trade.

Interesting Facts

This is a true monkey even though it does not have a tail, which means it is often called the Barbary Ape, which is an incorrect term.

The Barbary Macaques During Your Day Out in Kent

The original group of these macaques came to Wingham Wildlife Park in 2009, being one of the first primate additions to the park.  At that time they were housed where the newer mandrill enclosure stands now, however in 2016 they were moved to a brand new home opposite the main entrance to the park.  All of these macaques have been rescues from different backgrounds and have come to us from Stichting AAP in the Netherlands.  The group is made up of Momo, the dominant male, alongside the females; Jo, Hyatt, Dahlia Hasna and his daughter Pip.

The more you know…

Want to know more about this animal? Check out our keeper blogs about them here.

Meet The “Other” Monkeys

Mother’s Day

1st-7th May 2018 is International Macaque Week

A review of 2022

Conservation- A Brief Look at the Last Decade

Conservation News

Dangers of Primates as Pets

How Do We Keep Our Animals Warm in the Winter?

International Macaque Week

Our Conservation Activities

Training Sessions