Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
number of macaques present recorded.
Ad libitum
sightings outside locations
noted on the allocated survey days were also recorded. These data were then
used to create a preliminary human-macaque overlap range map.
Within this overlap zone (approximately 1 km
2
) direct counts were made of
all macaques seen within this area. Due to the small area, clustered distribution
and high number of individuals, total counts were chosen over transect or belt
sampling alternatives to provide a crude estimate of the macaque population.
Counts were made at three different times of day (morning, midday and after-
noon) on randomly selected days and two samples for each time were taken.
Each group count was carried out twice, minimum counts were combined and
averaged to produce the lower range and the same was done with maximum
counts to produce the higher boundary.
In order to identify groups: general location and site use, plus identification
of distinguishable individuals were used. Two night surveys were also con-
ducted to identify sleeping sites and attempt to clarify the number of groups by
observing sleeping clusters.
Over 60 hours of
ad libitum
observations were made of general behav-
iors occurring between humans and macaques throughout the overlap range
and particularly where groups of macaques were concentrated. General
patterns of interactions were noted, participant groups involved in inter-
actions and degree of contact involved. However, these were not quantified
only described. The overlap zone was also surveyed for management meas-
ures linked to macaque-human interaction e.g., recording presence of any
informative signs or warnings regarding the monkeys, and for any evidence
of resource sharing between the two, a shared resource was anything which
was observed as being used by both humans and monkeys, e.g., water taps,
pavements, and homes.
Results
Information from the questionnaire survey
The questionnaires were sent to 7,410 Tambons in 75 provinces, which
is separated into five regions: North, Central, Northeast, East and South
(Malaivijitnond and Hamada,
2008
). The largest numbers of questionnaires
were sent to the northeastern region (2,795 Tambons) and the smallest to the
eastern region (479 Tambons). A total of 1,417 questionnaires (19.1 percent)
were returned. The largest number of questionnaires that were returned was
from the northeastern region (642, 22.97 percent) and the smallest was from the
eastern region (96, 20.04 percent). A total of 705 questionnaires were positive
