THE RHESUS’ RECESS … A mother rhesus macaque and her infant taking a quick drink at a watering hole in Habiganj’s Satchhari National Park. The most widely distributed primates in the world, rhesus macaques prefer living in spaces with trees, as they are arboreal and mostly herbivorous. But these highly intelligent animals have become so accustomed to living with humans that they can be seen frequently in “concrete jungles” as well. They move in large troops comprising 20-200 primates, and the mothers spend most of their time rearing their young and preparing them for independence. Due to their wide availability, and anatomical and physiological similarities to humans, these monkeys have been used extensively in medical and biological research, and have also facilitated many scientific breakthroughs. Their survival remains crucial for humans and the environment, and the protection of forests and waterbodies is imperative for them to thrive.
Photo: Timu Hossain
