Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
aversion systems” can produce positive effects in reducing crop raiding (Strum,
1994
). This technique utilizes lithium chloride, or other chemical emetics, to
induce vomiting after feeding. Experimental work on taste aversion has shown
that only one exposure is necessary for an animal to acquire and learn a taste
aversion (Garcia, Ervin, and Koelling,
1966
).
Other programs to stop crop raiding are focused on removal of primates.
This tactic has been demonstrated to be effective against both baboon troops
and rhesus monkeys (Strum 1994; Southwick,
1986
). Other authors have criti-
cised translocation as an anti-crop-raiding strategy on the grounds that it is
often difficult to find suitable areas remote from human settlement in which to
relocate macaques. Translocated animals may come into conflict with humans
in the new location while new macaques may move into the original conflict
area, replacing translocated individuals (Pirta, Gadgil, and Kharshikar,
1997
).
Also, little is known about the negative effects of translocation on regional
population dynamics. Another proposed option has been simply to kill raid-
ing macaques, which is difficult to do. Total eradication is often impossible
(Strum,
1994
; Wheatley, Chapter 10).
The solution to crop raiding does not lie simply in changing the behavior and
location of the animals. The modification of human land-use methods is also a
critical component. Land within half km of the forest edge is where the major-
ity of crop raiding occurs (Hill,
2000
; Naughton-Treves,
1997
). Developing
strategies to reduce use of these border regions, as well as planting less pal-
atable crops, or placing barrier plants close to the forest edge should also be
considered (Hill,
2000
; Naughton-Treves,
1998
). Another option is crop insur-
ance schemes, which farmers could buy into or which are government subsi-
dized. Insured farmers would have assistance in deflecting the costs of crop
loss, which would also make them more tolerant of their wildlife neighbors
(Sinha
et al
.,
2006
). The main problem with insurance programs is that they
are costly to unaffected parties if the local people cannot afford or are unwill-
ing to purchase insurance themselves, which is often the case in developing
countries. Perhaps in such communities, rather than currency, shared subsist-
ence programs could be devised where local farmers provide food assistance to
farmers with damaged crops in exchange for services (e.g., assist in harvesting
and distributing crops).
Island colonies
Over the past decades, relocation of primates to islands has been put forward
as a way to address the issue of animals that have been removed from their
native group and basically have no other place to go. Proposals to establish
