Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Contraception on long-tailed macaques
As previously stated, many populations of long-tailed macaques in Thailand
are overpopulated and human-macaque conflict is taking place. In January
2008, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced the
launch of a population control program, by means of contraception, target-
ing 40 groups of long-tailed macaques throughout Thailand (Kom Chad
Luek Newspaper,
2008
). At Khao Wang (13° 06' 45” N, 99° 56' 16” E),
the Petchaburi Provincial Livestock Office started conducting a contracep-
tion project for long-tailed macaques, by orchidectomy in males and levo-
norgestrel hormone (a synthetic progesterone hormone) implantation in
female. The program has been underway since October 2005. However, after
being orchidectomized, adult male monkeys lost their social rank and were
chased out of the troop, and had to live peripherally to the troop, resulting
in more problems for people living nearby. Since January 2007, vasectomys
were used as an alternative form of male sterilization. This same group of
veterinarians also helped to perform sterilization procedures on long-tailed
macaques at Khao Toh Phayawang Recreation Park, Satun Province (
c.a
. 6°
30' N, 100° 01' E) in September 2009. A well-reported contraception project
for long-tailed macaques was recently launched at Sarn Pra Karn, Lopburi
Province (Thaiwildlife,
2009
; Reuters,
2009
). The veterinarian of the project,
Juthamas Supanam said that there were four groups of long-tailed macaques
at Lopburi; San Pra Karn, Manora Market, Building area and Malai Rama
Theater (
Figure 5.2
). Her unverified estimations were that there were approxi-
mately 2,900 monkeys that gave birth to 500 infants per year. The project
committee planned to control the birth rate to be not more than 300 infants per
year. Thus, at least half of the 1,500 male macaques were expected to be steri-
lized as part of the project (more detail about sterilization program for San Pra
Karn long-tailed macaques is in the section below on management).
Many locations, such as at the Khao Khieow Open Zoo; Wat Khao Chong
Krachok, Prachuap Khirikhan Province (11° 48' 41” N, 99° 48' 05” E); and
Khao Noi/Khao Tangkuan, Songkhla Province (7° 12' 33” N, 100° 35' 49” E),
were planning to follow with contraceptive projects like those at Khao Wang
and Sarn Pra Karn. However, local people in these areas had varying attitudes
to the enforcement of long-tailed macaque population control. From news-
paper interview statements it was revealed that a German tourist at Wat Khao
Chong Krachok and the veterinarian at Khao Noi/Khao Tang Kuan, viewed
the contraception as a negative approach; while others, tourist organization at
Khao Noi/Khao Tang Kuan and those that live near the sites and are disturbed
by monkeys at Khao Wang, had a positive attitude to the population control
(National News,
2009
; Thai News,
2009
). The students and staff from Ban
