Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
questionnaires were returned, we classified locations that had a reported
presence of primates in the area (i.e., positive reports) and mapped the distri-
bution of five species of macaques in Thailand. We traveled to locations that
had a reported presence of one of the five species of macaques, particularly
for long-tailed macaques.
Field survey
We visited the Tambons where macaques were reported between December
2002 and September 2009. On these surveys we recorded the location names,
geographical coordinates, macaque sub-species or species present (see
Fooden,
1995
), presence of hybrids, the number of macaques observed, evi-
dence for the release of heterospecific or conspecific macaques to the troop,
history of the troop, impact on and conflict with humans, habitat types (i.e.,
natural forest or anthropogenic), morphological characters and behavior (see
Appendix 5.2
). Photographs were also taken for further analysis and arch-
ival reference. The duration of observation in each location varied between
a half-day and a week. Some locations were visited more than once, when
it was an interesting site for the further study or it was a feasible site for
monkey capturing. At each location, we interviewed a Kamnan, senior local
people, or forest rangers.
During the survey, the morphological characters of the macaques, e.g.,
patterns of crest, crown, direction of cheek hair, pelage color, body size
and tail length, swelling and reddening of sex skin in female monkeys
(Engelhardt
et al
.,
2005
; Malaivijitnond
et al
.,
2007a
), were observed.
The macaque sub-species or species was identified based on their mor-
phological characters (
Figure 5.1
and based on Fooden,
1975
;
1990
;
1995
;
2000
; Malaivijitnond
et al
.,
2005
; Malaivijitnond and Hamada,
2008
;
Hamada
et al
.,
2005a
;
2006
;
2008
). Once monkeys were observed with
mixed morphological characters between at least two macaque species,
they were identified as hybrid.
Animal capture
Following the field survey, eighteen troops of long-tailed macaques from
selected feasible localities (
ca
. 16° 15' - 6° 30' N), (i.e., feasible to set a trap
on the ground, monkeys were habituated and acquired food provisioned on
the ground, and having more than 50 monkeys in the group), were temporar-
ily caught with a net trap (6m x 6m x 1.5m or 6m x 10m x 1.5m). A total of
