The rhesus macaque is a brown, medium-sized monkey native to South, Central and Southeast Asia. It is extremely adaptable, living alongside people in cities, and has played a major role in medical research.
Interesting facts
- Apart from humans, it has one of the widest ranges of any primate.
- A rhesus monkey named Albert II reached space in 1949.
- Rhesus macaques thrive in cities and around temples.
- A colony on Cayo Santiago island, Puerto Rico, has been studied since 1938.
- A population introduced in the 1930s lives wild in Florida.
- They are good swimmers.
Behaviour
Rhesus macaques live in troops with strict hierarchies passed down through the female line. They are bold and inquisitive and often steal food from people.
Breeding and young
After about five and a half months, a single infant is born. Females stay in their birth troop, while males move to other troops.
Threats and conservation
The species is common and not threatened, but it is often in conflict with people, and some are captured for research.
Where to see it
- Swayambhunath (‘monkey temple’), Kathmandu, Nepal
- Rishikesh and Haridwar, India
- Chitwan National Park, Nepal
- Temples and parks across northern India
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
