sri lanka animals

This macaque watched us eating lunch. (Photo Chris Hacking)

Omnipresent in Sri Lanka are the inquisitive, playful, always-hungry, opportunistic Red Faced Macaques Macaca spp.  They can be found around homes, temples, shopping centers, roadsides and in their more natural state in the wildlife sanctuaries.  Like other macaques, these monkeys have differentiated thumbs, cheek pouches for storing food and hardened bare patches on their rumps called callosities.  Red Faced Macaques adults can grow to about 1m (39in) long with a tail of equal length which they use for balance and as a fifth limb to help when climbing or walking tree limbs or wires.  They have reddish faces and and overall tan/cream colored fur with pointed black ears.  Macaques are omnivorous and can be found near garbage dumps or begging junk food from drivers by the road.  In the wild they eat leaves, berries and small animals.  Living in troops ranging from a few to many animals, both the males and females have important roles such as keeping watch or caring for the young, depending on their dominance.  Often while the females care for newborns males will watch over the older youth.Increased association with humans has led these intelligent animals to mimic human behavior and to become brazen in snatching food, hats, cameras and other unattended items.  A bite by a macaque can be quite dangerous not only for bacteria but the possibility of rabies.  It is best to guard your food and personal items closely when around the monkeys but if they start to take food, do not snatch it away or tease the animal.

Near sunset the flying foxes take flight for a night of fruit & nectar feeding