Reproductive failure in macaques

Reproductive failure among captive and free-ranging macaques is common. Many females experience amenorrhea or anovular cycles. Females who successfully conceive often lose the conceptus before implantation. After implantation, fetuses are aborted because of maternal, paternal, fetal, or placental abnormalities. Death postpartum is likely if infants are premature or if animals are subject to social stress, especially trauma. Based on published reports, reproductive failure among macaques includes an average of 16.3% abortions, 9.9% stillbirths, 21.9% neonatal deaths, and 15.2% infant deaths.