Effects of Tourists on Barbary Macaques at Gibraltar

O’Leary, Helen; Fa, John E.

doi:10.1159/000156733

Cited by 50 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Overall, our results suggest that the majority of macaque-to-human interactions seemed related to locating and obtaining food. This result has also been found in numerous other countries where high levels of macaque interface occur [Hong Kong: Fellowes, 1992; Bali: Fuentes & Gamerl, 2005; Fuentes et al, 2005; Malaysia: Norma-Rashid & Azarae, 1992; Gibraltar: O'Leary & Fa, 1993; Fuentes, 2006a; India: Pirta et al, 1997; China: Zhao, 1994; Zhao, 1996]. …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…This finding is much lower than in tourist areas in Gibraltar, where the interaction rates were found to be 99.6 [O'Leary & Fa, 1993] and 30.6 interactions per hour [Fuentes, 2006a]. This difference is likely because the interface in Gibraltar occurs in a small area densely packed with tourists and macaques, and people come to the area to directly interact with and feed the monkeys.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Macaque–human interactions and the societal perceptions of macaques in Singapore

Sha

Gumert

Lee

et al. 2009

American J Primatol

158

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Humans and long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) interface in several locations in Singapore. We investigated six of these interface zones to assess the level of conflict between the two species. We observed macaque-to-human interactions and distributed questionnaires to residents and visitors of nature reserves. We observed an average of two macaque-to-human interactions per hour at the sites, which included affiliative or submissive behaviors (46.9%), aggression (19.1%), taking food and other items (18.5%) searching bins, cars, and houses (13.4%), and nonaggressive contact (2.1%). Two-thirds of interactions occurred when a human was carrying food or food cues, and one-quarter occurred when a human provoked macaques. Only 8% of interactions occurred without a clear human-triggered context. Our interview showed one-third of respondents experienced nuisance problems from macaques. They had items taken from them (50.5%) and received threats (31.9%). Residents reported more nuisance problems than visitors, and their perceptions toward macaques differed. Residents were more aware of the consequences of food provisioning and that there were regulations against feeding. Residents fed macaques less and held more negative sentiments toward macaques. Nearly half of the interviewed people held neutral attitudes toward macaques and only 26.2% of respondents thought conflict with macaques warranted urgent action. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents supported education programs to ameliorate human–macaque conflict, and less than 15% supported removing or eradicating macaques. 87.6% felt that it is importance to conserve and protect macaques. Our results show that human–macaque conflict exists in Singapore, but that it may not be severe. Human behavior is largely responsible for macaque-to-human interactions, and thus could be lessened with management of human behavior in interface zones (i.e. restrict food carrying and provocation). Moreover, our interviews shows people living in Singapore value macaques, do not wish them entirely removed, prefer education-based solutions, and consider conservation and protection of them important.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Macaque–human interactions and the societal perceptions of macaques in Singapore

Sha

Gumert

Lee

et al. 2009

American J Primatol

158

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“…Macaques' feeding activity indeed happened during the humanmacaque interactions. The association of long-tailed macaques with human presence has been established in previous studies (Fuentes et al, 2008;McCarthy et al, 2009;O'Leary and Fa, 1993). O'Leary and Fa (1993) found that macaques at Gibraltar tend to spend less time being on the ground when they were not in the vicinity with visitors.…”

Section: Human-primate Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 73%

Human–long-Tailed Macaque Interactions and Ecotourism Potential in the Gunung Keriang Recreational Park, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia

2023

THE JAPS

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The long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) is among the Cercopithecidae primates that can be found in Gunung Keriang Recreational Park (GKRP), Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia. Its population size, human-primate interactions, and public perceptions have never been revealed. This study aimed to estimate the population size, evaluate interactions between macaques and visitors, determine the perception of visitors and locals toward primates, and assess the potential of GKRP as ecotourism site. The population size of long-tailed macaques was estimated through census walk, whereas the interactions between visitors and macaques were evaluated through scanning sampling technique. The perception of visitors and local people and the potential of GKRP as ecotourism site were determined through a questionnaire. Results indicated that 72 individuals of M. fascicularis were found ranging in GKRP. The interactions between visitors and macaques in GKRP were primarily constituted of positive interactions. Contrast perceptions between visitors and local people toward GKRP primates were obtained that were due to different experiences with primates encountered by both respondent groups. Visitors were inclined to accept macaques, whereas a majority of locals dislike them. GKRP has a potential to become an established ecotourism site considering values this recreational park has given to the visitors. Research findings were anticipated to increase the knowledge on human-primate interactions and ecotourism management that ultimately contributed toward the management of long-tailed macaques and their natural habitat.

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“…Assuming that getting food from humans is risky and/or linked to inter-individual dominance hierarchy, we expected that dietary composition would depend on the classes of individuals. Specifically, we predicted that adult males are more able to exploit human food because they are (1) less vulnerable to human harassment and/or (2) dominant over females and immatures in their access to preferred resources, as shown in provisioned populations in Gibraltar [ 45 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Diet Flexibility an Adaptive Life Trait for Relictual and Peri-Urban Populations of the Endangered Primate Macaca sylvanus?

et al. 2015

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Habitat loss, fragmentation and urban expansion may drive some species to marginal habitats while others succeed in exploiting urban areas. Species that show dietary flexibility are more able to take advantage of human activities to supplement their diet with anthropogenically abundant and accessible resources. The Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is an endangered species due to the loss of its habitat, and human pressure. The population of Gouraya National Park (Algeria) lives in a relictual habitat that constitutes about 0.6% of the species range. In addition, this population is a unique case where urban expansion favours contact zones between Barbary macaque habitats and a big city (Bejaia). We quantified the dietary composition of Gouraya macaques over an annual cycle with the objective to understand how diet flexibility of this species may help it adapt to a relictual habitat or cope with urban expansion. We recorded the phenology of plant species every month. This study shows that Gouraya macaques, compared to those living in other forest types of the distribution area, are under lower seasonal constraints. They consume a greater amount of fruit and seeds that are available throughout much of the year, and a lesser amount of costly to find and extract subterranean foods. Therefore the Gouraya relictual habitat appears as a favourable environment compared to other major habitats of that species. This study also shows that colonizing peri-urban zones increases the availability and species richness of diet resources for Barbary macaques as they consume more human foods and exotic plants than in farther sites. Adult males eat more human foods than adult females and immatures do. The exploitation of high-energy anthropogenic food could favour macaque population growth and expansion towards the city center associated with human/macaque conflicts. We recommend applying management actions to restore macaques back to their natural habitat.

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Effects of Tourists on Barbary Macaques at Gibraltar

Cited by 50 publications

References 11 publications

Macaque–human interactions and the societal perceptions of macaques in Singapore

Macaque–human interactions and the societal perceptions of macaques in Singapore

Human–long-Tailed Macaque Interactions and Ecotourism Potential in the Gunung Keriang Recreational Park, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia

Is Diet Flexibility an Adaptive Life Trait for Relictual and Peri-Urban Populations of the Endangered Primate Macaca sylvanus?

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