Developing sustainable human–macaque communities - Monkeys on the Edge - page 295

12 Developing sustainable

human-macaque communities
L i s a J o n e s - E n g e l , G r e g o r y
Engel, Michael D. Gumert and
Agustí n Fuentes

Introduction

A variety of factors make the management of free-ranging macaque popula-
tions challenging, both for communities and policy makers. The objective of
this chapter is to discuss management options that promote sustainable coexist-
ence of species. Well-conceived strategies will support the economic and social
goals of humans, the conservation of macaque populations, and the health of
both human and macaque populations.

Potential goals for managing the human-macaque interface

In any place where humans and macaques exist in proximity, individuals
or groups will have specific interests, goals or objectives concerning the
management of the human-macaque interface. Frequently, the interests of
one group or individual will be in conflict with others, making it diffi-
cult to reach consensus on implementing any specific management prac-
tice. For example, in communities where macaques are a tourist attraction,
tour guides and food vendors may perceive the recreational provisioning
of food to macaques as desirable, as it is popular with tourists and often
economically rewarding for vendors. Conservationists and public health
officials, however, may seek to prevent tourists from feeding monkeys in
order to reduce the human impact on macaque populations and reduce the
risk of bi-directional transmission of infectious agents. Primatologists are
often engaged in studying synanthropic macaque populations, and these