Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
10
Ethnophoresy: The exotic macaques
of Ngeaur Island, Republic of Palau
Bruce P. Wheatley
The only non-human primate population in Oceania is on the Island of Ngeaur
in the Republic of Palau. This population of macaques,
M. fascicularis
, was
the result of ethnophoresy, the dispersal of animals by humans. German colo-
nialists introduced about a half-dozen macaques from Indonesia around 1909.
Islanders view these macaques not only as agricultural pests to be hunted, but
also, in a limited sense as an increasing part of their natural heritage. Ngeaur
is a useful case study for ethnoprimatology to better understand what causes
communities to choose conservation, control, or eradication of commensal
macaques, which will be important as human and non-human primate interac-
tions continue to increase around the globe. Ethnoprimatologists can also offer
counsel to Palauan communities living near macaques by providing guidance
on management strategies. Population surveys of the macaques on Ngeaur
have estimated the population to be slightly less than 1,000 individuals, which
is twice the size of the human population. This chapter discusses how the local
communities can control their macaque population by limiting macaque dis-
persal into the southern part of Ngeaur where taro gardens are located and onto
the other islands of Palau. Totally eradicating the macaques may not be neces-
sary nor economically in Palau's best interest. Dispersal management will be a
more cost effective approach than eradication efforts, which can be expensive
to implement. Macaques could also be used to draw economic gains from tour-
ism, providing a resource to local communities. Proper management and util-
ization of macaques could allow for finances being available for use on other
species that threaten human health, conservation of endangered species, and
limiting the loss of biodiversity in Palau.
Heinsohn (
2003
) has proposed the term ethnophoresy to refer to animal
dispersal via human vessels. Specifically, he uses the term “ethnotramp” to
refer to any species such as
Macaca fascicularis
that is regularly translocated
and dispersed by humans. Such translocation might be suspect to any land
