Celebes crested macaque are nursed for approximately one year, becoming fully mature in three to four years, females somewhat sooner than males. Because it devastates crops and fields, the Celebes crested macaque is hunted as a pest. It is also hunted to provide bushmeat. Clearing the rain forests further threatens its survival. Its situation on the small neighbouring islands of Sulawesi (such as Bacan) is somewhat better, since these have a low human population. The total population of the macaque on Sulawesi is estimated at 4,000–6,000, while a booming population of up to 100,000 monkeys is found on Bacan. A series of survey
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.