Been in a bit of a primate mood lately. Here’s another of the many monkeys I’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the years. This is a long-tailed macaque, also known as a crab-eating macaque. Photographed right outside the front door of my cabin in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/250th of a second.

The Thomas’s leaf monkey, also known as the Thomas’s langur, is one of the world’s least studied primates. They live only in Sumatra and their habitat has been getting smaller and smaller due mainly to deforestation for logging, pulp and paper and palm oil cultivation. They are also hunted by locals, so they were understandably skittish every time they saw me raise my camera to take a photo. This monkey pictured above was one of the more relaxed ones I saw, thanks to the protection of a nearby national park. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.

Gracing the forests of Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo is the bearded pig. These guys are sort of the clean up crew of the jungle, following around orangutans and gobbling up whatever food scraps they leave behind. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 170mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/200th of a second.

It’s amazing how different the faces of each orangutan I met in Borneo were. And the hairstyles. This young lady almost looked like she was wearing a wig. Photographed in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.

I had the pleasure of hanging out with quite a few Celebes crested macaques on my visit to Sulawesi, Indonesia back in 2009. They have very little fear of humans, which in part contributes to their conservation status as critically endangered. I saw them in Tangkoko National Park, the only place they are protected. And even within the park, that protection isn’t always guaranteed. In addition to the continued loss of their habitat, they are easily caught due to their trusting nature and unfortunately locals consider their meat a delicacy. Here’s hoping they’ll still be around if I’m ever to make a return trip. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/160th of a second.

Just a simple portrait of a spectral tarsier going out to a friend who can use a simple portrait of a spectral tarsier right about now. This image gives a good look at the spurs, or toilet claws, on the feet. They are used for grooming and digging for insects. Tarsiers are one of the smallest primates in the world and they have the largest eyes to body ratio of any mammal. Their eyes are even larger than their brains. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 220mm) ISO 200, f/10 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-800 flash units.

This is one of the more rare animals that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in the wild. Also known as the small Sulawesi cuscus. Not much info on these guys but they are tree dwelling marsupials that live in — as the name suggests — Sulawesi, Indonesia. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/400th of a second.

Quite late on my post today, so just scrolled quickly through my files to find an appropriate subject and came across this spectral tarsier. I photographed her in Sulawesi, Indonesia using existing light from just after twilight, supplemented by the full moon. A slow shutter speed, tripod, and a very still subject allowed me to get the shot. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at .4 seconds.

I think this female proboscis monkey just realized what her male counterparts looked like (see this previous post for the male). It was fun to photograph these iconic monkeys from the platform of a small boat while I was floating down a river through Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second.

Obviously, the first thing you notice about a male proboscis monkey is that rather impressive snout. I love that the Indonesians call them monyet belanda (“Dutch monkey) or orang belanda (“Dutchman”), because they thought the Dutch colonizers had similarly large bellies and noses. I spotted this big boy in a tree at river’s edge on our way into Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/160th of a second.