Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
approximately 247 rivers all cascading down slopes from the central volcanic
range. During both the wet and dry seasons moisture accumulates above the vol-
canoes in the center of the islands providing a nearly year-round supply for the
rivers that course rapidly down towards the sea, creating deep ravines and ready
access to water for the south central portion of the island. Bali's landscape can
be currently described as a highly human-modified environment, where nearly
all land in south central Bali is human villages, rice agriculture and rivers with
deep ravines. The fertile soils combined with nearly 1,000 years of highly suc-
cessful wet rice agriculture has facilitated some of the highest human densities
in the world for a primarily rural population (avg. 482/km
2
, range 259-1104/
km
2
) (Mantra, 1995). Currently, three primate species are indigenous to the
island:
Macaca fascicularis
,
Trachypithecus auratus
and
Homo sapiens
.
The large population of long-tailed macaques on the island of Bali has been
the focus of a number of studies. Previous to this study the majority of infor-
mation on the Balinese macaques comes from published studies of behavior
at the Padangtegal Monkey Forest in Ubud by Bruce Wheatley and colleagues
(Wheatley,
1999
;
1991
,
1988
; Wheatley
et al
.,
1996
; Wheatley and Harya
Putra, 1994). Aside from these only a few researchers conducted short-term
behavioral, physiological or pathogen-related studies at monkey forests in Bali
(Angst,
1975
; Dolhinow
et al
.,
1995
; Engel
et al
.,
2006
, Jones-Engel
et al
.,
2008
; Kawamoto,
et al
.,
1984
; Koyama
et al
.,
1981
; Fuentes, 1992; Fuentes
et al
.,
2000
; and Suaryana
et al
., 2001). Human-macaque interactions at
Padangtegal and on Bali more generally, have also been the focus of a few
publications (Fuentes,
2006
; Fuentes and Gamerl,
2005
). Current research
on Bali macaques includes work on behavior, human-macaque interactions,
population genetics, pathogens and infectious diseases, mechanisms of obes-
ity, reproductive and dietary endocrinology, and the role of macaques in the
human social context of the Balinese (Fuentes,
2006
; Fuentes
et al
.,
2005
;
Engel
et al
.,
2006
; Lane
et al
., 2010).
The Bali macaque is an integral part of the culture, economy, and everyday
life of Bali. While some have argued for the sacredness of macaques, more
recent research has demonstrated that this sacredness is context-dependent
(Lane
et al
.,
2010
; Schillaci
et al
.,
2010
; Loudon
et al
., 2006; Fuentes
et al
.,
2005
). In contexts outside temples, the Balinese view macaques as potential
pets, crop-raiding pests, or sometimes even a source of food. Throughout the
island, macaques are chased away from rice fields, kept as pets by people of all
socio-economic levels, and allowed to thrive across the island in and around
temples. The macaque's habituation and presence at temples is a great pro-
moter for the substantial tourism sector in Bali, and some villages are able to
exploit such benefits for their local economy. The multi-faceted and intimate
nature of the human-macaque relationship on Bali has required researchers to
