Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
injuries and any open wounds. The wounds were cleaned and stitched, and
gun pellets were frequently removed from their bodies. Injured macaques were
given antibiotics and treated for mange. The monkeys were subsequently pho-
tographed, their ears were pierced with an identification number, and they were
marked with temporary purple spray across their chest to distinguish them from
untreated males once they were released. As part of this management initiative,
there was supposed to be a monitoring program to count the population before
and after the sterilization program. However, full details were not outlined in
the Monkey Foundation meeting notes and the investigator was not aware of
any accurate count having been undertaken either before or during the inves-
tigation period.
Besides the sterilization program, the government and the Monkey
Foundation had another management initiative which has been the creation
of three main provisioning sites: at Sarn Pra Karn, behind Prang Sam Yot and
opposite the Sri Indra Hotel. In addition, signs warning of 2,000 baht fines for
feeding the monkeys along the streets and outside the designated provisioning
sites were dotted around the Old City areas. The initiative to restrict feeding
to specialized sites was aimed at luring the macaques away from residential
buildings and towards the shrine areas. Our observations suggest these signs
were largely ineffective, as there was frequently evidence of provisioning all
around the areas where there were monkeys including directly in front of these
warning signs. It is unlikely this fine is enforced, as one of the signs was dir-
ectly in front of a police booth and provisioning was frequently observed in
this area.
Other than these signs warning of fines, there were few other informative
signs in relation to the monkeys: there were several “Beware Monkey Zone”
signs directly surrounding Sarn Pra Karn shrine, and some information boards
listing the monkeys' favorite foods and drinks within the Sarn Pra Karn
grounds. No information was displayed anywhere on how to behave near the
monkeys, what attire to avoid, or what to do if a monkey became aggressive
towards you.
Discussion
In the most recent worldwide review of the status of non-human primates,
experts stated that in Asia alone, over 70 percent of non-human primates are
listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as “vulnerable,” “endan-
gered” or “critically endangered” (IUCN,
2009
). However, the two subspecies
of long-tailed macaques in Thailand,
M. f. fascicularis
and
M. f. aurea
, are
classified as of least concern and data deficient, respectively on the IUCN Red
