SEATTLE – Woodland Park Zoo euthanized a 31-year-old male lion-tailed macaque (muh-KAK) yesterday due to age-related declining health and quality of life. The elderly monkey was showing signs of compromised health and euthanasia became the most humane option.

The species can live 30 or more years in zoos. The deceased monkey represented the oldest monkey currently living at Woodland Park Zoo, a testament to the excellent care the zoo provides its collection of 1,000-plus specimens. Five monkeys of the same species remain at the zoo’s Trail of Vines.

Photo: Carolyn Austin

Lion-tailed macaques are one of the smallest of 15 macaque species. The lion-tailed are 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. Per recommendations by the SSP, the macaques currently living at the zoo are not a breeding group. The zoo participates in 35 SSPs, which are administered by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (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 200 zoos and aquariums as members.

Zoo winter hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, including Christmas Day. For more information about the zoo, visit www.zoo.org or call 206.684.4800.

###

Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, 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.