Macaques are known for their sharp minds and strong sense of social connection, and grooming plays a big part in how they relate to others. When a macaque carefully picks burrs off a caregiver’s shirt, it is simply showing the same natural grooming behaviour it would use in the wild. Grooming helps macaques remove debris, stay clean, and build trust within their groups. This behaviour also shows just how clever they are. A macaque can spot tiny things like burrs, recognise that they do not belon