Species name: Macaca thibetana
Status: Near Threatened
Habitat: forests areas of Eastern Tibet and other South-Eastern areas in China, at elevations ranging from 800 to 2,500 meters / 2,600 to 8,200 feet.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Height: Males average body length is between 60.5 to 71 cm and female an average body length of 50.5 to 65 cm.
Weight: Males weight of an average is between 13 to 19.5 kilograms and females weigh of an average is 9 to 13 kilograms.
ABOUT TIBETAN MACAQUES
The Tibetan macaque, also called Short-tailed Tibetan Macaque, is the largest macaque in the world. You can see these animals in the South-Eastern areas of Tibet, as well as in Sichuan province. They prefer to stay in subtropical or evergreen and broadleaf forest areas at elevations between 800 to 2,500 meters / 2,600 to 8,200 feet. These monkeys adapted to cold temperatures by having thick dense fur.
Tibetan macaques are grayish-brown with lighter beards and whiskers and lighter belly. Their muzzles are hairless. Males are much larger than females with a body length of 60 – 70 cm / 24 – 28 inches and weighing 14 – 19 kg / 31 – 43 lbs. Females are usually 50 – 63 cm / 19 – 25 inches in length and weigh about 9 – 12 kg / 20 – 29 lbs. They have short tails 5-14 cm / 2-5.5 inches long.
TIBETAN MACAQUES HABITS AND DIET
The macaques are terrestrial, they spend most of their time on the ground foraging for food, and prefer to sleep in caves. Tibetan macaques are most active during the daytime. They eat a wide variety of food, such as fruit, leaves, grass, bamboo shoots and fruit, berries, flowers, roots, insects, eggs, mushrooms, and occasionally birds and snakes. Unlike many other macaque species, Tibetan macaques don’t frequent farmlands in search of food.
TIBETAN MACAQUES BEHAVIOR
Tibetan macaques are social, they stay in groups of 10 to sometimes up to 100 animals. These groups are hierarchical and the alpha male leads them. They use a wide variety of sounds, as well as facial expressions and gestures to communicate with each other. Female macaques stay in their natal groups. They start mating when they reach 5 years and have one offspring at a time. The young macaque would spend the next 4 years with the mother. Males leave their natal groups and try challenging alpha males in the new group to improve their position. In large groups, some males may leave to form their own group and avoid fierce competition for the dominant position.
TIBETAN MACAQUES PROTECTION
Rapid deforestation in their natural habitat dramatically impacted the macaques. Their current status is near threatened. After 1988, macaques were also on a list of class II protected species in China. Since Tibetan macaques live in remote mountaneous areas with dence forests, it is difficult to study their population. Their status is accessed as near threatened (from 2015) because of significant habitat loss in the past 20-30 years. Currently, there are many protection efforts in place and scientists believe that rate of decline in the macaque’s population is not as high.
WHERE TO SEE TIBETAN MACAQUES
Since Tibetan macaques prefer forested areas, they are usually seen in the South-Eastern part of Tibet also known as “Tibetan Switzerland”. There are several climatic zones depending on the height of the mountains and macaques can forage freely on a variety of food there. Although macaques are wary of people, it is possible to see them. During cold winters, locals sometimes bring fruit and vegetables to hungry monkeys.
If you are traveling to Lhasa from Chengdu, you can take a 1-2 days tour from Chengdu to Mount Emei. Many Tibetan macaques inhabit this mountain and they often come out to people. You can read about details on traveling from Chengdu to Lhasa, as well as recommeded places to visit in our article:
MORE WILD ANIMALS IN TIBET
POPULAR TOURS IN TIBET
LHASA TO EVEREST TOUR
A beautiful and exciting journey, starting in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and going to the Everest Base Camp. The tour visits Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera, Drepung and Tashilhunpo monasteries, Kumbum Stupa, Yamdrok lake and Karola glaciers.
Both group and private tours are available.
15 DAYS MOUNT KAILASH PILGRIMAGE TOUR
One of our most popular group tours starts in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and goes to Mount Kailash for three-day trekking around this sacred mountain. During this tour, we visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse monastery and Kumbum stupa, Mount Everest, Lake Manasarovar, Mount Kailash, and much more.
8 DAYS LHASA TO RANWU TSO LAKE
This beautiful tour starts in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. After that, we will drive to Nyingchi, the gorgeous region often called “Tibetan Switzerland” for its alpine lakes, dense forests, river canyons, mountains, and glaciers. We will drive to the Ranwu Tso lake, visit Lulang forest, and see the best mountains, glaciers, and views that the region has to offer.
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