Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 13.1. Nations with populations of long-tailed macaques
Bangladesh
Brunei
Cambodia
China (i.e., Hong Kong)
East Timor
India (i.e., Nicobar Islands)
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Mauritius
Myanmar (Burma)
Philippines
Republic of Palau
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
may result in rapid population decline. As development continues in Southeast
Asia, we need to assess how vulnerable macaques are to human influences
(Eudey, 2008 ).
The question of conserving long-tailed macaques
Should efforts be made to conserve long-tailed macaques? According to the
current IUCN Red List, the core long-tailed macaque subspecies M. f. fas-
cicularis , is considered to be of least concern, although some species are
thought to be declining (Ong and Richardson, 2008 ). Prior to this classi-
fication, M. fascicularis was listed as lower risk/near threatened in earlier
assessments (i.e., 2000 and 2004), and thus was afforded a greater level of
protection in the past. It is unclear why the status has changed and the popu-
lation is no longer given any serious protection. This is especially curious
since the current population is argued to require close monitoring because,
even though they are widespread, they are rapidly declining in numbers due
to conflict with humans, capture for trade, and habitat loss (Eudey, 2008 ).
Perhaps related to the demotion in their protected status was the ratification
of long-tailed macaques into the IUCN's list of the World's 100 Worst Invasive
Species (Lowe et al ., 2000 ). The conservation community has now seriously
devalued long-tailed macaques because of the heightened emphasis of human-
macaque conflict in Mauritius, Palau, and West Papua (Kemp and Burnett,
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