Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
macaques to human in the temple monkey of forest of Padentegal, Bali dur-
ing a six-week study.
Damaging facilities was the least frequent behavior recorded at the UKM
main campus. Long-tailed macaques were seen swinging on clothes lines
and electric cables, which can be damaging to these structures. Sometimes,
long-tailed macaques were seen to sit and rest on cars. Some of the car
owners claimed that their cars were scratched by long-tailed macaques.
According to Suhailan (
2004
),
M. fascicularis
at the West Country macaque
were seen to destroy a few flower pots and vases when around people's
homes. Sha
et al
., (
2009b
) also found that taking food items or belong-
ings, receiving aggression and experiencing property damage to fruits trees
and ornamental gardens by long-tailed macaques were the most common
types of complaints in Singapore. Suhailan (
2004
) found that the long-tailed
macaques used to climb on house roofs, breaking shingles and damaging
them. Many respondents claimed that their roof had to be changed at least
once every three months as a result of damage caused by macaques. Tuan-
Zaubidah (
2003
) observed macaques had broken a few roofs on local houses
of Bukit Lagi, Perlis.
Based on the questionnaire, more than half of the respondents said the level
of human-macaque conflict occurring in the residential area of the college
was moderate compared to previous years. The macaques have no place to
go after their natural habitats have been destroyed for campus development.
However, most of the respondents agreed that the existence of long-tailed
macaques in their residence creates a serious nuisance problem. The same
situation observed by Suhailan (
2004
) in which 72.3 percent of his respond-
ents agreed that the existence of long-tailed macaques in their residence was
a serious pest problem. In questionnaire surveys, students also agreed that the
trash bins were inefficient and a proper dumping area is needed to alleviate
human-macaque conflict.
Our results suggest that there is a significant amount of nuisance problems
from monkeys on the campus of UKM. We suggest that DWNP should take
urgent actions such as scheduling the collections of rubbish from dumping
areas more frequently so that trash does not lie around for macaques to obtain.
In addition, UKM should provide proper macaque-proof trash bins with lids
to cover the rubbish and restrict the macaque's access to food sources on cam-
pus. It may also be necessary to capture and move some nuisance macaques to
other suitable areas. We hope that with the results of this study, the university
authority and DWNP will take more immediate management actions in man-
aging the human-macaque conflict at UKM, while also taking into account the
importance to sustain this unique species in the area. Human and long-tailed
macaques interface in many locations in Malay Peninsula, and thus human-
