HOBO, DREY, TAMMY AND SPOK
RHESUS MACAQUE - Macaca mulatta
Hobo was the first Macaque to arrive at the Haven after being rescued by the RSPCA from someone's back garden in Dorset. Hobo's rescue became national news.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/6926253.stm
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1559119/Baby-monkey-rescued-from-Dorset-garden.html
He was believed to be about a year old and was initially cared for by Cricket St Thomas before arriving at the Haven.
Hobo settled in well bonding with a cuddly toy which he dragged around the enclosure.
He watched the Lar Gibbons swinging from the ropes in their enclosure next door and soon learnt these 'swinging' skills too which is unusual for a macaque monkey.
Hobo was not alone for long before we received a male and female macaque from Drayton Manor Park called Drey and Tammy.
Unknown to us Tammy the female was pregnant when she arrived at the Haven and three months later gave birth to Spok, a healthy male macaque. She is a superb mum and Spok has become a lovely playmate for Hobo.
ABOUT RHESUS MACAQUE
They have given their name to the rhesus antigens found in their blood in 1940, which has enabled doctors to determine different blood groups in humans.
Rhesus macaques are widely made use of in biological psychological and medicinal research. One of the major reasons for this is that they can be easily raised in captivity.
During the 1950s and 1960s Rhesus macaques were participants in space travel.
They are good swimmers and will cross water to find food.
The Rhesus macaque has specialised pouch-like cheeks allowing it to temporarily hoard its food for later.
Rhesus Macaques have a pale brown coat which fades on the underside. The hair on the top of their head is short and the adults have a red face and rump.
Common Name
Rhesus Macaque
Latin Name
Macaca mulatta
Conservation status
Least Concern. Listed on CITES Appendix II
Distribution
Throughout most of southern Asia
Habitat
Tolerant to a broad range of habitats including tropical and temperate forest, as well as being highly adaptable to man-made habitats
Length
45-55cm
Weight
4.5 - 7.5kg
Wild Diet
Omnivorous feeders, eating both plants and animals as their food source
Breeding
First litter at 3.5-5.5 years of age, then every 1 to 2 years. One offspring per litter
Behavior
Semi-terrestrial so spend both time on the ground as well as arboreal (trees). Group size has been known to average 40 individuals
