ADULT RHESUS MACAQUE BEHAVIOR

Written By: Karen D. Gill

Rhesus in the wild are born into a hierarchy in their family group. The adult females ranking in the group determines the rank of the offspring. The baby born will be ranked just below the mother. Females in the group know their rank and do not have to fight to maintain their position. Males will move out of the group at puberty and will assume the lowest rank in the group they join. Any challenge of rank from a lower ranking individual will be met with severe fighting. Groups also have a hierarchy, members know if a group they meet is higher or lower in rank. Uncertainly of rank is cause to fight. Rhesus must know where they and others stand.

When you purchase a baby Rhesus, the baby has no knowledge of his ranking in your family group. They quickly learn that there is one primary caregiver. They learn from actions and vocalization where each family member ranks in the household.

I have two Rhesus living with our family. Lucy came to us at two and a half years old. Mindy came to us two years later at the age of four. Lucy and Mindy were both raised by other families. We do not have any background on Lucy. Mindy's family had problems with her and had to give her up.

Lucy accepted me as head of the family. As she got older and matured, she would not allow any one else to get her out of the cage. She would bite other members of the family if they were close enough to reach. She was very devious, sometimes luring my kids to her like she wanted to be petted, and then grabbing and biting. She has never bitten me. As soon as her canine teeth began to grow into dangerous weapons, we had them removed. We had her ovaries removed shortly after her menstrual periods started. We saw a drop in aggression. But, Lucy had to figure out her rank in our family. She has put herself just below me. Everyone else is lower and cannot control or correct her. If they do they will be severely bitten. She will allow them to have a hug on occasion. They realize at any moment she could take a movement they make as trying to control her and she will turn on them. My husband is higher rank than the kids and if he calls them when they are playing with Lucy, she gets mad at them.

Lucy will cuddle and groom me. She cries and wants me to spend time with her. I sit by her cage every night and pet her while we watch television. I take her out side and let her play on a 25 ft. long rope. She also plays in the outdoor cage.

Lucy is my monkey. She will protect me to her death. She knows when I yell at the neighbors dog to get out of the yard, that I am upset. She would fight with no holds barred. She also knows that I have to tell people to stay back if she is outside. Lucy in turn will bite strangers if at all possible. I have to protect them. She is 23 pounds of muscle and teeth.

Mindy came from a home where the male head of the household held the highest rank. She made it clear by biting that only he could control her. I met her and her family and brought her home. Mindy submitted to me and let me control her. My husband wanted to be able to get her out so he started bringing her outside when I took Lucy out. She did not object to his control. As the weeks went on, Mindy felt she had to give control to only one person. I tried to put her into her cage and she turned on me and bit my arm. My husband, who was sitting behind me, asked if I wanted him to put her up. In a couple of seconds, I had to decide whether to fight or hand over control. I handed him the leash and stepped out of the way. Mindy was ready to bite me again.

Mindy will allow me to pet her when she is in her cage, but I have to wait for a sign from her that it is what she wants. If I just reach in to pet her when walking by the cage, she will bite me. The kids are treated the same way. Strangers are met with aggression. My husband gets Mindy out and plays with her. On a few occasions, she would bite him. He had to grab her and hold her down while yelling, to impress on her that he was in charge. She always backs down to his threats.

The girls are in separate cages because of aggressive behavior towards each other. We have not let them fight and settle who is dominant. They do have contact with each other, but only when they can be separated when they start to fight.

The cages needed to contain them are 1/4 inch steel bars with 1 inch square steel corners. Mindy's cage came with her and cost $750 custom built. Lucy's cage is a replica made by my husband for $250 in materials.

When I wanted a monkey, I wanted a pet that could have the run of the house. I wanted a pet that would fit into our lives and add enjoyment. I went to libraries and researched to try and find the kind of monkey I wanted. There is not a lot of information out there, and what you do find does not contain descriptive adult behavioral changes.

When I saw Lucy, she was so cute, cuddly, and little. I bought her on the spot. I was told she would be a good family pet. Please before you can't resist the impulse, learn and educate yourself first.

If I had known adult macaque behavior, I would have waited for another kind of monkey. Mindy arrived after Lucy has shown us adult behavior. We knew she needed a home and accepted her knowing she was an adult with an attitude. They might not be perfect pets, but they are family. We have to adjust to their behavior knowing they will not change. They are special in their own ways and show their love for us everyday.

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