Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
immunology, hematology, and general physiology. In these areas, rhesus are
accepted as valuable surrogate models for human beings.
It is less accepted, and rarely recognized, that rhesus may also serve as a
model for human population ecology. They share several population qualities
with us, including potential high rates of reproduction, adaptations to a wide
range of habitats, and tendencies to urbanize. Behaviorally and socially, simi-
larities are also apparent: definite group structures, prominent dominance hier-
archies, high intelligence and adaptability, strong patterns of both affection and
aggression, and overall ecological success in the world.
Much of the rapid population growth of rhesus macaques depends on its
high birthrates in a variety of habitats, especially commensal habitats. Birthrate
analyses of India data show that rhesus populations in commensal habitats (i.e.,
urban, temple, and village habitats) have significantly higher annual birth rates
(85 percent to 91 percent) than those in forest habitats (68 percent) (Southwick
and Siddiqi,
2008
).
Birthrate data for other species of macaques are difficult to compare, espe-
cially for tropical species where no clear birth season is evident. In
M. fas-
cicularis
, for example, births occur throughout the year, so the best that can
be done is to compare infant/adult female ratios as indicators of birth rates. In
commensal groups in a small forest in Ubud, Bali, four years of study up to
1992 showed that infant/adult female ratios averaged 41.2 percent (Wheatley
and Harya Putra,
1994
), whereas comparable data for rhesus are 75 percent to
90 percent. Despite the relatively low natality of
M. fascicularis
, also accom-
panied by high mortality, the
M. fascicularis
population of Ubud increased 200
percent in fifteen years prior to 1992. This Ubud population has maintained
an annual population increase of 6 percent since 1998 (Fuentes, Southern and
Suaryana,
2005
; Fuentes
et al
., Chapter 6) Other species of macaques, such as
the Bonnet macaque,
M. radiata
, in south India (Chakravarthy and Thyagaraj,
2005
), and the Japanese macaque,
M. fuscata
(Watanabe and Muroyama,
2005
), have also shown remarkable population growth, including range and
habitat expansion.
The ecology and behavior of rhesus monkeys, along with their “extremely
advanced”… social structure and impressive geographical distribution prompted
the well-known anthropologist, John Napier, to comment: “I am convinced
that had not man arrived on the primate evolutionary scene, these ubiquitous
creatures would have ruled the world” (Napier,
1976
). Philip Lutgendorf, a
leading scholar of Hindi and modern India, adds to this in a major work on
Hanuman by noting that the “monkey problem” in India, and the popular deity
of Hanuman “blur the boundary between human and animal….” This is cer-
tainly true for both traditional Hinduism and modern-day India, creating an
ethical dilemma in classical Hindu beliefs.
