SEATTLE - An 18-year-old male lion-tailed macaque monkey passed away Monday night at Woodland Park Zoo. The endangered primate lived in the zoo’s award-winning Trail of Vines exhibit with six other macaques. Lion-tailed macaques may live up to 30 years in zoos and up to 20 years in the wild.

The zoo’s veterinarian team performed a necropsy and no immediate cause of death was found. “There were no obvious signs of trauma or other life-threatening disease,” explained zoo Director of Animal Health Dr. Darin Collins. This macaque received its annual examination in March and was determined at that time to be in apparent good health. The zoo’s other macaques appear to be healthy, but will remain under close observation. Final pathology results are pending from the zoo’s consulting veterinary pathologist.

Lion-tailed macaques are one of the smallest of 15 macaque species. The lion-tailed macaque is native to southwestern India, in the Western Ghats mountains. They live in dense primary tropical forests. Lion-tailed macaques are known for their lion-like manes and tails. They have black, silky fur, long, gray hairs around the face and a small tuft of fur at the end of the tail.

Woodland Park Zoo participates in the lion-tailed macaque Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative breeding program to help ensure genetic diversity and demographic stability in North American zoos. The zoo participates in 35 SSPs, which are administered by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). Additionally, SSPs involve a variety of other collaborative conservation activities such as research, public education, reintroduction and field projects. AZA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation, with more than 205 zoos and aquariums as members.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.