#macaq

On my way up to Le Pouce Mountain Peak (820m), one of the highest mountains in #Mauritius, I met this long-tailed female Macaque (Macaca fascicularis); such a friendly and curious little creature. She approached us slowly, jumped away again and repeated her game for 5 minutes. But that game had a sudden end when her husband approached the scene and we realized why this species is listed as a threat and invasive alien species in Mauritius! The local hikers next to me told me that these species are one of the major export goods of Mauritius, besides sugar and preserved fish, with more than 8000 Macaques per year. I met macaques all over the island, especially at the Hindu pilgrimage site Grand Bassin where the apes steel the devotee's gifts from the Hanuman Temple. 
They look super cute, especially the young ones, but be aware of their aggressive behavior  - they are not pets!

Pig-tailed macaque, not sure if northern or southern one. Khao Yai National Park, Thailand