OLD WORLD MONKEY - Cercopithecidae
Assamese Macaque
Macaca assamensis

• Distribution

In Vietnam: Tuyen Quang, Backan, Lao Cai, Lang Son, Ha Tay, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Tay Nguyen.
In the world: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand, China, Lao and Bangladesh.

• Habitat

The Assameses Macaque usually lives in mountainous forest as well as in more flat areas and woods on limestone areas.

• Behaviour

This macaque species lives in small groups which contains 12 to 25 individuals. The same as the other macaque species this group is divided in sub-groups. Each group contains a few females with their ungs and some other young animals. A sub-group is led by an adult male. This macaque is famous for the reason that they can live an mix with other macaque species. This species lives high in the trees and very rarely they will come to the ground. The average lifetime is 15 to 20 years.
In the wild they eat fruits, leaf-buds, tubers and insects. In the Hanoi Zoo they are fed the same food as the Stump-tailed Macaque which are fruits, sweet potatoes, rice and insects.
The Assamese Macaque reaches sexual maturity at the same age as all the macaque species which is at an age of two years. The gestation period is 7 to 8 months. The newborns weigh around 300 to 500 g. this macaque is listed in the “Red Data Book for Vietnam”.

Văn Nam (Theo hanoizoo)