Cheeky monkey! Macaque borrows photographer's camera to take hilariousself-portraitsBy Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 4:03 PM on 5th July 2011

To capture the perfect wildlife image, you usually have to be in exactly the right place at precisely the right time.

But in this instance, David Slater wasn’t there at all and he still got a result.

Visiting a national park in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, award-winning photographer Mr Slater left his camera unattended for a while.

It 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. The upshot: A splendid self-portrait.

Say cheese: The monkeys were intrigued by their reflection in the camera lens

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You can be in this one too: The monkey even snapped a shot with photographer DavidSlater in the frame

Chimply marvellous: The images taken by the monkeys at a national park in Indonesiaare perfect portraits

'One of them must have accidentally knocked the camera and set it off because the sound caused a bit of a frenzy, said Slater, 46.

'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.

'They were quite mischievous jumping all over my equipment, and it looked like they were already posing for the camera when one hit the button.

'The sound got his attention and he kept pressing it

'At first it scared the rest of them away but they soon came back - it was amazing to watch.

'He must have taken hundreds of pictures by the time I got my camera back, but not very many were in focus. He obviously hadn't worked that out yet.

'I wish I could have stayed longer as he probably would have taken a full family album.'

Slater, from Coleford, Gloucestershire, was on a trip to a small national park north of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi when he met the incredibly friendly bunch.

The crested black macaque is extremely rare and critically endangered.

These were part of a study group near a science base in the region, home to researchers from Holland.

'I teamed up with a local guide because I knew about the apes and wanted to photograph them,' said Slater.

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Self-portrait: This critically endangered macaque monkey took his own photographsafter grabbing a camera that had been left lying around

'I walked with them for about three days in a row.

'They befriended us and showed absolutely no aggression - they were just interested in the things I was carrying.

'They aren't known for being particularly clever like chimps, just inquisitive.

'Despite probably never having any contact with humans before they didn't feel threatened by our presence, and that's why I could walk with them during the day.'

Places:Indonesia,The Netherlands

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Simply fabulous. Hope this exposure helps bring generate support for preservation of the species.

- Rosalind Gardner, Penticton, British Columbia, Canada, 07/7/2011 23:43

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They are simply amazing! I hope they thrive :) Nice job David.

- Linda, Oakley, CA, 07/7/2011 16:59

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