The Fear of Monkeys - The Best E-Zine on the Web for Politically Conscious WritingThe Tibetan Macaque - Issue Twenty-Three
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The Tibetan Macaque: photo from Christian ArtusoThe Tibetan Macaque is found in mixed subtropical forests at altitudes from 800 to 2,500 m above sea level from eastern Tibet east to Guangdong and north to Shaanxi in China. this largest species of macaque is one of the largest monkeys found in Asia. Males are the larger sex, commonly attain a weight of 13 to 19.5 kg while females weigh 9 to 13 kg. Their long, dense fur is brown on the back with creamy-buff to grey coloration on the underparts. Some adults are quite dark brown on the back while others are basically a sandy yellowish brown color. They have a prominent, pale-buff beard and long whiskers, but have a hairless face. The infants have silver and black fur that changes to its adult color at the age of two. They live in mixed sex groups and have a complex social system; females remain for life in their natal group, but males disperse shortly after their adolescence (at about 8 years old). Alpha males dominate the group, being those that are typically large, strong and newly mature. As they age, males tend to gradually lose their social standing and are frequently subject to challenges for dominance from other males. Females first breed at around five years of age. The gestation period is six months with a single offspring being produced at each pregnancy. Males of the group may also be involved in alloparenting care. They spend most of their time on the ground, where they forage for leaves, fruit, grass and, to a lesser extent, flowers, seeds, roots and insects. When available, bamboo shoots, fruits and leaves are particularly favoured. Their main threats are all human-related. They are sensitive to habitat destruction, as they are tied closely to the forest. As well, they are occasionally poisoned by herbicides and pesticides while eating and may catch diseases transmitted from human. Illegal poaching may occur, with humans killing them for their flesh and fur.

   


Less Than Wise

by

JD DeHart

A less than wise man
once said to me that an
African American President
made people more racist

As if a sudden knowledge
of the sun makes us hotter
or a sudden awareness
of our ignorance makes us
ignorant; sorry to say, dear
sir, that the condition exists
apart from the stimulus

I simply did not know
what to say except to blink
and walk away.


JD DeHart is a writer, blogger, and teacher. His chapbook, The Truth About Snails, is available on Amazon.

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