Cheeky Rhesus Macaque

Cheeky Rhesus macaque, Aravalli Hills, New Delhi, India. Once the humidity levels finally dropped after the monsoon I decided to get out and explore one of the large chunks of jungle that runs through the city. Almost as soon as we stepped into the forest we were greeted by hundreds of mischievous rhesus macaques staring down at us from the trees. This teenager was sat enjoying the warm sunshine allowing me to try some different compositions. The surrounding vegetation allowed me to create a natural frame and also protect his modesty! Rhesus Macaques inhabit many of New Delhi’s many green spaces and have adapted incredibly well to urban life.

Cheeky Rhesus Macaque: About Rhesus Macaques:

The Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) is an old world monkey found throughout central and Southern Asia. Thanks to their wide distribution and large population size, they are listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. Rhesus macaques have the largest geographic range of any primate (second only to humans) occupying a diverse range of habitats. As a result they can be found in jungles and mountain forests, grasslands and arid plains and particularly in India; urban areas. Their adaptability as a species makes them highly successful and in some areas they are so numerous they are considered a major pest.

Like many primates Rhesus macaque’s are omnivorous, eating both vegetable matter and insects and small animals. They live in socially complex and noisy troops that can sometimes include up to 200 monkeys. 

You can find out more about the Rhesus Macaque here.