Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
little direct contact. These observations are similar to those made by Fuentes
(
2006
) when he observed differences between types of people and the interac-
tions between humans and macaques at Bali and Gibraltar. In addition, work in
Singapore has shown that residents and visitors to nature parks with macaques
have very different attitudes and very different experiences with macaques (Sha
et al
.,
2009
)
Due to the urban nature of Lopburi, there is very little vegetation within
the macaque-inhabited areas. The macaques are almost entirely dependent
on human provisioning for their survival, and all of the macaques in Lopburi
receive provisioning from people. As a result, there is a very close interface
between people and macaques, perhaps one of the most intense interfaces on
earth. People are highly affected by macaques in Lopburi and so measures
are needed to properly manage this population. People use a variety of short-
term tactics to deter macaques and the preferred tools for monkey deterrence
appear to be sling-shots, toy machine guns and sticks. A sterilization program
is underway as well, and there was evidence of shotgun injuries in approxi-
mately half of the male monkeys captured, with some individuals having sev-
eral pellets embedded over their bodies. This suggests more harmful deterrent
methods may be employed than were directly observed, and that the human-
macaque interface does not only have negative consequences to the humans
involved. Overall, management programs, involving primatologists, will need
to be developed to manage and control the population and nuisances of the
macaques at Lopburi, while also working to sustain a healthy population of
macaques at this very unique interface.
Conclusion
In Thailand, there are pros and cons to having a troop of long-tailed macaques
living close to humans. Many people benefit from the monkeys, such as
banana vendors, hotel owners and shop keepers, but there are also people
who live near monkey populations who do not gain any economic benefits but
receive damage. Up to now, there are neither concrete management plans nor
primatologist participation to overcome the problem of local overcrowding
and conflict with humans. The local overcrowding of long-tailed macaques is
a delicate matter, and to solve the problem we need a mutual understanding
among people. In many macaque localities the local governors have made
short-term plans such as catching and translocating monkeys or performing
contraceptive operations, without considering their long-term consequences.
The translocation may destroy the natural genetic diversity of the species,
