Local People’s Perceptions of Crop Damage by Common Langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) and Human-langur Conflict in Keshabpur of Bangladesh

Abstract

We studied crop damage and human-langur conflicts in six villages of Keshabpur upazila in the Jessore district of Bangladesh from September 2009 to August 2010. Data were collected by interviewing local people with a questionnaire. We discuss the attitudes of locals towards crop damage inflicted by the common langur (Semnopithecus entellus). We analysed local deterrent methods for reducing crop damage and the management strategy adopted by the Forest Department to conserve langurs. Thus, we investigated how demographic variables were associated with the perceptions of locals towards crop damage and conflicts. A total of 27 different crop species were cultivated across the villages, among which langurs mostly damaged fruits. Although most damage occurred during the fruiting season langurs damaged crops throughout the year. Around 55 % of the respondents reported that the local deterring methods were effective but that they affect their children's education and economy. Furthermore, almost 59 % of the respondents were tolerable towards the langur damage. People living in villages with a high langur population and where weak conservation methods were used reported greater crop damage than their counterparts. A linear regression analysis revealed that the occupation, landholding status, and ethical and religious beliefs of the people included in this study has a significant impact on their attitudes regarding conservation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement conservation measures to mitigate human-langur conflicts as well as to conserve common langurs in areas where humans and langurs coexist.

Status And Effects Of Food Provisioning on Ecology of Assamese Monkey (Macaca Assamensis) In Ramdi Area of Palpa, Nepal

“…Crop damage caused by raiding primates is one of the most widespread and common examples of humanprimate conflicts in the areas where local people are mainly subsistence farmers (Hill, 1998). When the supply of natural food is not enough, high quality and easily digested human food is a good alternative form of nutrition for primates, which could be the most important cause of the intensity of crop raiding (Khatun et al 2013). In Ramdi area, 66% respondents (N = 100) highlighted crop raiding as the major problem caused by Assamese monkeys while grabbing/taking of food materials and clothes was reported by 47% respondents.…”

“…In MBCA, they recorded highest loss of maize (32%) followed by potato (24%), rice (14%), fruits (12%), millets (11%), wheat (4%), buckwheat (2%) and pulses (1%). Crop raiding is an essential component of the ecology of primates inhabiting human settlements (Naughton-Treves et al, 1998) but it is likely to minimize the tolerance of subsistence farmers towards conservation of such crop-raider threatened primate species (Khatun et al, 2013). This fact may be useful in predicting the vulnerability of the Assamese monkey survival in Ramdi area.…”

Crop Raiding Status by Assamese Monkeys (Macaca assamensis) along the Kaligandaki River, Western Nepal

“…Crop damage caused by raiding primates is one of the most widespread and common examples of humanprimate conflicts in the areas where local people are mainly subsistence farmers (Hill, 1998). When the supply of natural food is not enough, high quality and easily digested human food is a good alternative form of nutrition for primates, which could be the most important cause of the intensity of crop raiding (Khatun et al 2013).…”

“…The frequency of crop raiding is affected by the availability of natural food as well as number of individuals of the monkeys in the area. Crop raiding is an essential component of the ecology of primates inhabiting human settlements (Naughton-Treves et al 1998) but it is likely to minimize the tolerance of subsistence farmers towards conservation of such crop-raider threatened primate species (Khatun et al 2013). This fact may be useful in predicting the vulnerability of the Assamese monkey survival in Kaligandaki riverside area.…”

Human-Rhesus Monkey conflict at Rampur Village under Monohardi Upazila in Narsingdi District of Bangladesh

“…However, in Asia in general and in Bangladesh in particular, conflicts between humans and the Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta Zimmermann, 1780) are on the increase (IUCN 2009). No published paper is available on the crop damage by primates in human settlement areas in Bangladesh except Khatun et al (2013) on Common Langurs (Semnopithecus entellus). Increasing conflict between humans and Rhesus Macaques is a growing problem for both species in Bangladesh.…”