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

Abstract

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.

Effect of Human Activity and Presence on the Behavior of Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in an Urban Tourism Site in Kuala Selangor, Malaysia

“…Human-animal conflict in Kuala Selangor is recognized from the many complaints that centre around LTM and relate to their endeavors to obtain anthropogenic food (e.g., foraging bins for food) [27]. Despite this, aggressive behaviors were extremely low, which is consistent with observations about LTM in Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Malaysia [25] and in Gunung Keriang Recreational Park, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia [47]. This suggests that public perception fuels conflict mitigation strategies, which include lethal control: 97,200 LTM were culled in 2012 [48].…”

Interactions with humans reduce the success of foraging for anthropogenic food by capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in Brasília National Park, Brazil

“…In the natural environment, foraging success is associated with a number of different strategies, and in primates, as in other mammals, it may depend on a series of factors (e.g., Majolo et al, 2008;Van Schaik, 2013;Ydenberg et al, 2007). In the manmade environment, anthropogenic pressures may be analogous to the risk of predation, from the perspective of the primate (Frid & Dill, 2002), even though the capuchins may also perceive humans as a source of food (Taufet-Rosdi & Md-Zain, 2023). The risks factors involved in foraging for anthropogenic foods include the number of humans present at the site, and their behavior, which means that the success of an interaction in terms of obtaining the anthropogenic food will probably vary among environments, making the understanding of this process an even greater challenge.…”