Crab-Eating Macaque, also known as long-tailed macaques, java monkeys and cynomolgus monkeys – the Crab-Eating Macaque is a type of Old World monkey native to southern Asia. They inhabit a wide range of terrains including coastal areas, mangroves, forests, swamplands and even human settlements. They are highly social animals, living in groups of 20-100 individuals in the wild. The name “crab-eating macaque” refers to some of the animals being seen eating crabs and other crustaceans as part of their diet. They are also great swimmers! This species is now classed as “endangered” on the IUCN red list due to habitat loss and animal trading.
Meet Our Crab-Eating Macaques:
Oscar: Oscar arrived at Secret Valley in November 2021. At this time, he was approximately 6 years old. Oscar unfortunately did not have a great start in life; he was kept as a pet in Northern Ireland where he lived in a storage container. Since his arrival, he has formed great relationships with his keepers, enjoys a variety of enrichments, training and can often be seen relaxing in a tree in his outdoor enclosure (his favourite look-out spot). Oscar had spent his entire life without a companion and Secret Valley worked very hard to find him a friend, leading to the arrival of Dexter.
Dexter: Dexter joined the Secret Valley family in January 2025, after coming all the way from the Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium. Dexter is an ex-laboratory monkey. He was rescued by the Belgian rescue centre in 2017 from an Italian lab along with 22 other crab-eating macaques. He then resided at the centre for many years until his partner sadly passed away in 2024, leaving Dexter in search of another companion. Oscar and Dexter have now formed a lovely friendship here at Secret Valley.
