Saving Simeulue's Last Long-Tailed Macaque

SIMEULUE, INDONESIA - JULY 27: Kurnia Ilham, researcher and LTMP Head of Indonesia Programmes poses for a photo at Batu Ralang on July 27, 2025 in Simeulue, Aceh, Indonesia. The Simeulue long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis fusca) is one of the world's most endangered primates, found only on Simeulue Island off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. This subspecies is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to a suspected population decline of at least 95% over three generations. Surveys conducted between 1982–1984 and in 2017 indicate a drop from an estimated 50,000 individuals to fewer than 250, though up to 1,000 may still survive. Major threats include deforestation, agricultural expansion, and crop raiding, which often leads to conflict with farmers. In response, the Long-Tailed Macaque Project (LTMP), an international organization established in 2021, works to protect this species and others across South and Southeast Asia—focusing on common species and subspecies in Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Singapore. On Simeulue Island, LTMP studies macaque behavior, collaborates with local communities to raise awareness, and promotes peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife. By addressing these threats and fostering community involvement, the project aims to safeguard the macaque's future before it disappears. (Photo by Roni Bintang/Getty Images)