Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
1970s when the Singapore Botanic Gardens removed groups of “nuisance
monkeys” within its premises through shooting them despite public out-
cry (Tan
et al
.,
2007
; Anon,
2010
). Since that episode, the Agri-Food and
Veterinary Authority (AVA) has publicly stated that culling will only be a
“last resort and only if the monkeys become aggressive and pose a danger
to the public.” (Goh,
2008
).
This is a brief review of the main management practices that NParks has
adopted to deal with the human-macaque conflict situation in Singapore,
often in cooperation with other agencies such as the AVA. Translocation
and sterilization (Martelli, B.,
unpublished data
) were also explored and
implemented in the past but the former technique is not feasible due to
rehabilitation needs and the lack of forested areas for release of macaques
without causing further human-macaque conflict. Sterilization, as a popu-
lation control measure, is worth considering as it has shown to be partially
effective in places with commensal macaques such as Gibraltar and Hong
Kong (Cortes and Shaw,
2006
, Wong and Chow,
2004
) although Cortes and
Shaw (
2006
) have questioned the implications of sterilization on macaque
behavior in the long-term.
Management practices
Total feeding ban and elimination of artificial food sources
Lucas (1985) reported that visitors and staff alike at Bukit Timah Nature
Reserve (BTNR) used to feed the moneys in the late 1980s despite notices
asking them to refrain from food provisioning, but this situation is no
longer observed in the reserve. There is a feeding ban under the Parks and
Trees Regulations, which prohibits the feeding of animals in our parks and
nature reserves, and this rule is regularly enforced. In fact, enforcement
efforts have been increased. From January to May 2010, there were 146
fines issued for monkey feeding alone, compared to the same five-month
period in 2009 where only thirty-four fines were issued. The penalty for
feeding monkeys have also risen in the last few years from SGD$200 to
$250 in May 2007, and from SGD$250 to a hefty SGD$500 in Feb 2008
(National Parks Board, 2008). An example was also made of an offender in
national newspapers who had to pay a fine of SGD$4,000, the highest on
record for feeding monkeys, after he refused to pay an initial fine in January
2008 (Chong, 2008). For effective enforcement, auxiliary police as well as
surveillance cameras are used to deter and apprehend monkey feeders. The
increase in enforcement efforts and the stiffer penalties have discouraged
most people from going to Old Upper Thomson Road (a popular location
