Specimen C 30289 Macaca sinica

Summary

The Toque Macaque, Macaca sinica is a commonly found monkey in Sri Lanka. This particular specimen has been in the collection since the late nineeth century. Victorian Governor, Henry Barkly believed that free-roaming monkeys would make Victorian parks more enjoyable. The Acclimatisation Society disagreed, and in 1862 it destroyed the monkeys that some of its more enthusiastic supporters had gifted them. In 1872, the Acclimatisation Society rebranded as the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society Victoria and established the Melbourne Zoo. This particular monkey was donated to the museum after they died at Melbourne Zoo.