[PHOTO] Monkey Steals Camera, Takes Self-Portraits
07/06/2011
A critically endangered macaque monkey took his own photographs after grabbing a camera that had been left lying around by award-winning photographer David Slater!
While visiting a national park in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Mr. Slater inadvertently left his camera unattended for a while. The forgotten camera soon attracted the attention of an inquisitive female from a local group of crested black macaque monkeys, known for their intelligence and dexterity. Fascinated by her reflection in the lens, she then somehow managed to start the camera and capture a most excellent self-portrait! Brilliant!
More monkeys then joined in on the photo shoot. "One of them must have accidentally knocked the camera and set it off because the sound caused a bit of a frenzy," Slater told the Daily Mail UK this week. "At first there was a lot of grimacing with their teeth showing because it was probably the first time they had ever seen a reflection."
[Check out Top 10 Bizarre Monkey Behaviors]
By the time Slater got his camera back, the monkeys had managed to take hundreds of pictures, but not very many were in focus...with the exception of this winning shot! Awesome isn't it!!?!
[Check out a goofy goat sporting a million dollar grin!]
Photo Source: Caters News Agency













Get that macaque an agent, or at least an ongoing photography gig with National Geographic!
Posted by: A.F. for Animal Planet | 07/06/2011 at 01:24 PM
wanna see a picture of macaque! lolz
Posted by: Ryan | 07/06/2011 at 09:00 PM
Or is it Aphrodite Jones a member of the plague of gutter journalists?
Posted by: fairlyUnbalanced | 07/06/2011 at 11:22 PM
wow these are great. first thing that came to mind is, these are better than many of the facebook/myspace self portraits that people have. that must have been one badass camera
Posted by: Jacob | 07/06/2011 at 11:42 PM
wow these are great. first thing that came to mind is, these are better than many of the facebook/myspace self portraits that people have. that must have been one badass camera
Posted by: Eric | 07/07/2011 at 12:26 AM
Pulley = Racist, birther idiot and more than likely a neo-fascist. Make sure to just mock, bury and ignore.
Posted by: Glen | 07/07/2011 at 12:27 AM
Fake, but cute and makes for a great story.
Posted by: Earwicker | 07/07/2011 at 01:13 AM
So so Cute!
Posted by: belt buckles | 07/07/2011 at 07:29 AM
Dude that is so cute camera guy got a brillant shot!
Posted by: handbag organisers | 07/07/2011 at 07:31 AM
I want that monkey! What do I have to do to get one? AWESOME!
Posted by: Phillip | 07/07/2011 at 07:56 AM
For the record plural monkeys does not receive an apostrophe.
Posted by: Michael | 07/07/2011 at 09:16 AM
Meh. It's nothing special. A monkey could've done it.
Posted by: Purist | 07/07/2011 at 08:10 PM
could we see a side by side comparison with the photos taken by the professional photographer? Mr. Slater may be replaced by his new friends.
Posted by: david dephillips | 07/08/2011 at 11:19 AM
slowly and discreetly. Wonder if the camera was visible in order to intimidate the public into the desired interaction. where I live theres this backwards tradition of eating raw beef sandwhiches,Figura de acción NECA, I just tried it yesterday for the first and last time (being vegan is pointless/pretentious) with my aunt and her bf. they are by no means alt,фигурки, but hefty, and they spoke in scathing double speak about me while I tried to nap out the second half of the football game (via not caring much about competetive sporting) as if I was dissing them for not wanting to watch the game,Neca Action Figure, after already subjecting myself to the most digestive pain evr. Tradition!
Posted by: Action Figures Neca | 07/12/2011 at 02:37 AM
Macaque #1: Cheeeeze!!!
Macaque #2: I think I got it...just gotta push this button here...
Posted by: stairway220 | 07/13/2011 at 11:25 PM
This is sooo freaking cute. I love monkeys and just the fact it looks like this pic will be posted on facebook makes it 10 times better. :-)
Posted by: Nichole Reynolds | 07/14/2011 at 08:05 AM
How come Caters News Agency gets the copyright? The rule is that the photographer gets the copyright, no matter whose camera it is. Did the agency sign the monkeys? What currency do they get their royalties in?
Posted by: Toms | 07/16/2011 at 07:48 AM
Why not call CSI and zoom in on the eyeballs and see what the model and serial number is of the camera. Oh and while you're there, why not see if there was a guy taking the photo or the macaque.
Posted by: CSI | 07/25/2011 at 11:21 PM
That's incredible! Better than a lot of self-portraits I've seen...
Posted by: Aputure | 08/11/2011 at 03:54 AM
This should be a proof that can confirm the monkey can always do something just like a human being,haha...
Posted by: cheap saws | 08/17/2011 at 04:48 AM
Beware, It seems like rising of the Apes... :)
Posted by: SHIV | 08/18/2011 at 06:50 AM
1st photo is very cute...
Posted by: belt | 08/18/2011 at 09:19 AM
SO what? that fact only confirms that she is a real woman! And please don't try to find out the ditales. if she would do it for PR all of us would have learned long ago about this. Let her live in harmony!
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Posted by: pellet mill ring die | 08/31/2011 at 07:05 AM
The eyes are wizard ,you can see his wisdom here...
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