macaque problems in Delhi

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Primates for Primates

Helping all primate species.

 

Macaques are getting a bad deal world wide at the moment. In parts of the

world their numbers are increasing and the way humans see it, it is the

macaques interfering with our society. The following was passed onto me. It

is from the daily pioneer.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/displayit1.asp?pathit=/sundaypioneer/foray/fory2.txt

 

Man-made menace

Top international primatologist Dr Woolfgang Dittus of the US-based

Smithsonian Institution of Primate Projects, who has done extensive studies

in the rhesus macaque, says translocation and sterilisation are not viable

options to control the monkey menace in Delhi or any other urban area. What

is needed is educating people to not feed monkeys either religiously or

through uncivic practices like littering garbage cans. In an email interview

with Meenakshi Rao he also suggests how there is a need to find the best way

to co-exist with them. That, or abandon culture and kill them en masse as

some countries do

 

Q. What is the best way to rid Delhi of its 10,000 monkeys?

 

A. Do what is necessary to prevent the monkeys from increasing to a bigger

number and becoming an even worse menace.

 

Q. Is sterilisation a viable option?

 

A. Sterilisation of monkeys does not immediately reduce a monkey population.

It is a long-term measure to prevent further growth, or to reduce the number

of monkeys over many years by limiting new recruitment (births).

 

The monkey numbers are reduced because older ones die of old age and they

are not replaced by young ones. If sterilisation were to be selected as a

method, then castration of males is not effective because one intact male

can easily sire many offsprings my mating with many females, as is the habit

of monkeys. Sterilisation of females is the most effective way of preventing

new births. But, unless this is done in well organised and humane manner by

trained professional primatologists and veterinarians, any attempts are

likely to fail.

 

Q. Is translocation an ideal solution?

 

A. Translocation of troublesome monkeys is the least desired method of

population control. Translocated monkeys with raiding habits will simply

shift the menace from one community to another.

 

Translocating to a Nature Reserve is equally pointless, as translocated

monkeys are at risk of being killed by resident monkeys in competition for

living space. In addition, translocation has many undesirable health and

genetics issues. Finally, an area that is freed of monkeys is an invitation

for other monkeys to take up residence.

 

Q. Can you suggest a lasting solution?

 

A. Short of killing or euthanising monkeys, as is often done in other

countries, humans need to be taught to co-exist with them. The biggest

challenge there is cleaning our environment of garbage, preventing monkeys

access to crops, and especially preventing the purposeful feeding of

monkeys. This might be coupled with the establishment of monkey sanctuaries,

where the public is supervised in feeding monkeys. It is a major educational

campaign.

 

Q. The best approach?

 

A. The best approach would be to educate people to not feed monkeys, or to

feed them only in designated areas. Such areas might be selected, for

example, near temples or in monkey sanctuaries supervised by local

authorities. If the public is educated that their garbage and ritual feeding

of monkeys causes humans and monkeys harm, they may be more willing to

restrain their impulse to feed or litter the environment with food scraps.

 

Q. What is the root of the problem?

 

A. That humans feed them directly or indirectly. Here is how it works: In

undisturbed forest environments the number of monkeys is nearly always

limited. The number of monkeys in any area is determined by the amount of

food available for them in the forest. Predators and disease can reduce

numbers, but only temporarily and over many years. Many more monkeys are

born than can ever hope to survive. Fifty to 80% die before reaching

breeding age. They die of social stress and limitations imposed by high

ranking monkeys. Yes, monkeys kill each other by subtle social means. That

keeps their numbers in check.

 

Q. What happens when you disturb this many millions of years long

equilibrium situation?

 

A. When forest are cut, depriving monkeys of their natural food supply, they

go to other areas to seek a living. If no suitable habitat is found, they

die out. More often, however, destroyed natural forest is replaced by human

agriculture and dwellings and towns where food is plentiful. Human food like

crops (monkeys raid them), vegetable garbage (humans dump everywhere and

monkeys help themselves), and purposeful feeding by humans. Refugee monkeys

eat these foods and thrive.

 

The monkey menace thus exists because humans directly or indirectly provide

them with the food that fuels their numbers or prevents them from dying.

 

Q. How do monkeys become a menace?

 

A. Humans behave inappropriately towards monkeys who, in turn, learn to take

the upper hand and become aggressive. Left alone, monkeys tolerate humans

and don't harass them, or flee from them. The problem starts when humans

donate food to monkeys. In monkey society, a simian does not give food to

another. It robs food from subordinates. Subordinate monkeys are harassed by

superiors, to death. By giving food to a monkey, people teach monkeys to

perceive humans as inferior beings to be exploited or robbed at will. Often,

donation of food is peaceful. Trouble starts when a human shows food to a

monkey and then withholds it. The monkey asserts it's rightful ownership (in

the monkey's mind) of the food held by the human and tries to take it from

the human by force.

 

Q. Why do India, Nepal and Sri Lanka tolerate monkeys and not kill them by

poisoning or shooting as in other countries?

 

A. With notable exceptions, South Asian culture and society respects

animals, in particular monkeys as a cultural and religious symbol. That is a

great quality of this culture and we should do everything in our power to

preserve it, because of its value for biological conservation and ultimately

the quality of human life.