Celebes crested macaque Celebes crested macaque The Celebes crested macaque ("Macaca nigra"), also known as the crested black macaque, Sulawesi crested macaque, or the black ape, is an Old World monkey that lives in the Tangkoko reserve in the northeastern tip of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi (Celebes), as well as on smaller neighboring islands. Locally known as "yaki" or "wolai", its skin and hairless face is, with the exception of some white hair in the shoulder range, entirely jet black. Unusual for a primate, it has striking reddish-brown eyes. The long muzzle with high cheeks and the long hair tuft, or crest,
Celebes crested macaque Paignton Zoo are among a number of mostly European zoos which hold "ex-situ" breeding populations of this animal. Since 2006, the "Macaca Nigra Project" has been studying the biology and promoting the conservation of this species. The project, a collaboration between the German Primate Center and the Bogor Agricultural Institute, is run by Antje Engelhardt and located in the Tangkoko reserve, home of the biggest crested macaque population remaining in the species' original distribution range. Nevertheless, despite being critically endangered, crested black macaque are still being hunted down and slaughtered. Crested black macaque is considered a delicacy by local residents.