Long-tailed Macaques Macaca Fascicularis Research Articles

A Wide Survey To Assess Population Of Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca Fascicularis (Primates: Cercopithecidae) In Lowland Region Of South Sumatra

The Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis is an Endagered primate because species' population decline very rapidly due to high levels of hunting for trade. A survey to collect data on the M. fascicularis population was carried out in the lowland areas of South Sumatra Province on 7 September-16 October 2023. This survey was carried out in 17 sites in four main districts/cities, including Palembang, Musi Banyuasin, Banyuasin and Ogan Ilir. This survey was recorded 4,316 individuals of M. fascicularis. This number suggest that M. fascicularis has good population number and still commonly found at the survey sites. Based on the survey coverage of the survey area and the total number of ??the lowlands in South Sumatra, we estimate the population of M. fascicularis in the lowlands in this province to be around 300,000 individuals. Further surveys are needed to determine the exact number of M. fascicularis populations in South Sumatra Province.

Short Communication: A Rapid Assessment of Vertebrate in Pasir Timbul-Sungsang IV, Banyuasin, South Sumatra, Indonesia

The mangrove forest in Pasir Timbul, Sungsang IV Village, Banyuasin Regency, part of mangrove area within the Air Telang Protected Forest Area, is experiencing pressure from changes in land cover. A rapid survey to determine the vertebrate diversity in Pasir Timbul, at the tip of the Air Telang Protected Forest area was conducted in early June 2023. The purpose of the survey is to propose species priority in conservation within context species and habitat management plan. Vertebrate surveys were carried out rapidly using several methods adapted to certain taxa levels, namely amphibians and reptiles, fish, birds and mammals. Priority for fauna conservation in the Air Telang Protected Forest (study area) for reptiles: Crocodylus porosus (Protected under Indonesian law), Fishes: Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Endangered by IUCN), Birds: Anhinga melanogaster (Protected), Haliastur indus (Protected), Microhierax fringillarius (Protected), Rhipidura javanica (Protected), and Mammals including the long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis (Endangered), langurs Trachypithecus cristatus (Vulnerable), and Prionailurus sp. Conservation efforts need to be increased because this area as buffer zone of Berbak Sembilang National Park, having high carbon absorption, and provide a breeding ground for fish, shrimp and crabs. It is clear the site is habitat for various fauna (including protected ones), as well as other ecological functions such as breaking waves, resisting seawater intrusion and abrasion.

A tough nut to crack? Proficiency in coconut processing of the Nicobar long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosus

A tough nut to crack? Proficiency in coconut processing of the Nicobar long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosus

ESTIMATE POPULATION OF LONG-TAILED MACAQUE MACACA FASCICULARIS (PRIMATES: CERCOPITHECIDAE) IN CALIK RIVER, SOUTH SUMATRA

Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis is recently considered Endangered primate based on the assumption of rapid decline due to the heavy demand in trading. To look at recent data of this Endangered primate, we conduct a mega transect survey on 5 June 2022 and 10-15 June 2022, to assess the populatons on M. fascicularis along 115 km of Calik River, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia. We use direct observation to census all individuals of M. fascicularis. Our survey found a total of 1.194 individuals of M. fascicularis were encountered in Calik River. Based on the survey coverage, it is presumed that the population of M. fascicularis in this area could reach 2.000 individuals. Due to the high population, it was confirmed that this primate has become a pest for the major crops of local people. In addition, no indication of hunting or observation of local people who keep M. fascicularis as a pet. Our survey suggests M. fascicularis is the most common species in riverine habitats.

Inventory and abundance of non-volant mammals and birds in the unprotected regions of the Mount Apo Range, Philippines

Wildlife, such as non-volant mammals and birds, play a vital role in the maintenance of ecosystem health. They are considered ecological engineers that influence forest vegetation. However, due to deforestation, habitat loss, and human persecution, its population status has declined over the years. This study aimed to conduct a species inventory and assess the relative abundance of non-volant mammals and birds in the unprotected regions of the Mt. Apo Range, Philippines, through camera trapping methods. Furthermore, the anthropogenic threats observed in the study areas were also documented. A total of 1,106 camera trap days were carried out in 2016 and another 500 days in 2020. Based on 260 independent sequences for both the 2016 and 2020 surveys, 12 species were identified, consisting of eight non-volant mammals and four birds. Among the identified species are the Endangered Philippine Brown Deer Rusa marianna & Philippine Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis philippensis and the Vulnerable Giant Scops-owl Otus gurneyi & the Philippine Warty Pig Sus philippensis. Video evidence of the Philippine Warty Pig Sus philippensis performing an important ecological role as an ecological engineer in the Philippine tropical forests were also captured for the first time. Another 61 independent sequences of unidentified rodents were detected in the camera traps, requiring further species monitoring techniques. Conservation must be strengthened beyond the protected landscapes of the Mt. Apo Range through community-based forest governance. This will ensure that the forest vertebrates are protected and conserved from further anthropogenic pressures.

Metabarcoding data analysis revealed the plant dietary variation of long-tailed macaque Macacafascicularis (Cercopithecidae, Cercopithecinae) living in disturbed habitats in Peninsular Malaysia.

The long-tailed macaque (Macacafascicularis) has a wide range in both Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Although the primates are especially vulnerable to habitat alterations, this primate lives in disturbed habitats due to human-induced land-use. Thus, this study presents a faecal metabarcoding approach to clarify the plant diet of long-tailed macaques from five locations in Peninsular Malaysia to represent fragmented forest, forest edge, island and recreational park habitats. We extracted genomic DNA from 53 long-tailed macaque faecal samples. We found 47 orders, 126 families, 609 genera and 818 species across these five localities. A total of 113 plant families were consumed by long-tailed macaques in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 61 in the Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute, 33 in Langkawi Island, 53 in Redang Island and 44 in the Cenderawasih Cave. Moraceae (33.24%) and Fabaceae (13.63%) were the most common families consumed by long-tailed macaques from the study localities. We found that habitat type impacted diet composition, indicating the flexibility of foraging activities. This research findings provide an understanding of plant dietary diversity and the adaptability of this macaque with the current alteration level that applies to long-tailed macaque conservation management interest in the future.

Masturbation in a Free-ranging Male Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis (Raffles, 1821) on Mindanao Island, Philippines

Long-tailed macaques in the Philippines are understudied in terms of ecology and behavior, which includes their sexual behaviors, in their natural habitats. Masturbation is a natural, auto-erotic behavior rarely observed in the wild in most non-human primates. In this paper, we report an act of masturbation by a free-ranging male long-tailed macaque in a beach forest at an eco-tourism site in Tagum City, Mindanao Island, Philippines. The masturbation was performed by a sub-adult male resting on the handrail of a wooden staircase. A few seconds after masturbation, ejaculation was achieved. Although more detailed observations are needed, it is likely that limited access to female mates contributed to the male’s self-stimulation. This further calls for more scientific explorations on reproductive and non-reproductive sexual behaviors of long-tailed macaques in the wild. Moreover, this can be crucial for conservation purposes such as its application to the non-invasive collection of semen samples in wild populations.

Predation on a Parachute Gecko Gekko sp. by Long-tailed Macaques Macaca fascicularis (Raffles, 1821) in Mt. Apo Natural Park, Philippines

Long-tailed macaques are omnivores feeding on plants and animal matter. They are known to feed on meat occasionally, and it represents a very small portion of their diet. This paper reports a predation event by long-tailed macaques on a parachute gecko in Mt. Apo Natural Park, Philippines. Two macaques were involved in the predation: a juvenile macaque responsible for catching the gecko and a subadult female macaque that consumed the prey. There is no published comprehensive list of dietary composition of the species in the Philippines, so this report adds to the existing literature on meat-eating behaviors of long-tailed macaques. The most probable explanation for the observed predation in the area is that meat provides micronutrients for the macaques, although further studies are necessary to confirm this. In this paper, we provide evidence of their unrecorded animal-based food resource that is crucial to understanding their feeding behaviors that can be used for their successful management.

Use of an embedded fruit by Nicobar Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosus: II. Demographic influences on choices of coconuts Cocos nucifera and pattern of forays to palm plantations

Adaptive pressures of human-induced rapid environmental changes and insular ecological conditions have led to behavioral innovations among behaviorally flexible nonhuman primates. Documenting long-term responses of threatened populations is vital for our understanding of species and location-specific adaptive capacities under fluctuating equilibrium. The Nicobar Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosus, an insular sub-species uses coconuts Cocos nucifera, an embedded cultivar as a food resource and is speculated to have enhanced its dependence as a result of anthropogenic and environmental alterations. We explored demographic patterns of use and abandonment of different phenophases of fresh coconuts. To study crop foraging strategies, we recorded daily entry and duration of forays into coconut plantations. We divided age-classes into early juvenile (13–36 months), late juvenile (37–72 months), and adults (>72 months) and classified phenophase of coconuts into six types. Consistent with the theory of life history strategies, late juveniles were found to use a greater number of coconuts, which was considerably higher in an urban troop but marginally higher in a forest-plantation dwelling group. Except in late juveniles, males consumed a higher number of coconuts than females in the remaining age-classes. Owing to developmental constraints, juveniles of both types used higher proportion of immature coconuts though adults showed equitable distribution across phenophases. Pattern of entries to plantations and duration of forays were uniform through the day in the urban troop but modulatory in the forest-plantation group, perhaps due to frequent and hostile human interferences. Observations corroborating adaptations to anthropogenic disturbances are described.

Dusky Langurs Trachypithecus obscurus (Reid, 1837) (Primates: Cercopithecidae) in Singapore: potential origin and conflicts with native primate species

The introduction of exotic species can have detrimental effects on local populations via factors such as resource competition and new threats from disease. Singapore has three native species of non-human primates: Sunda Slow Loris Nycticebus coucang, Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis, and Raffles’ Banded Langur Presbytis femoralis. Over the past few months, several non-native Dusky Langurs Trachypithecus obscurus were observed in Singapore. We document our observations, compile reports from social media, and attempt to assess the potential impacts on local primates. Whenever Dusky Langurs were encountered, we recorded the date, time, GPS coordinates, group demographics, and behaviour, including interactions with native primates. We also monitored sighting reports of Dusky Langurs posted on local major Facebook groups from 30 December 2019 to 31 January 2020, and privately messaged the person(s) for more information. On 31 August 2019, three Dusky Langurs were seen near a residential area in the northern part of Singapore, and two to three individuals were reported on 14 subsequent occasions. During one encounter on 18 January 2020, an adult male Long-tailed Macaque chased a group of Dusky Langurs from a feeding tree. The next day the same group of Dusky Langurs chased a group of 11 Banded Langurs from another feeding tree. The Dusky Langurs appeared to be healthy and wild, indicating that they may have swum across the Johor Strait and/or traveled on the Johor-Singapore Causeway from Malaysia. Further monitoring of these Dusky Langurs will be required to assess their impact on local primates.

Habitat use by a primate community in a lowland dipterocarp forest in Danum Valley, Borneo.

Knowledge of niche partitioning with respect to habitat is indispensable to understand the mechanism of coexistence of multiple species. Among primates, however, data are still deficient because repeated survey for a sufficiently long time, covering seasonal changes over a large area, is the only way to clarify habitat segregation within a seasonally fluctuating environment. Southeast Asia is particularly interesting because of the supra-annual, highly unpredictable seasonality in fruiting known as mast fruiting. We conducted repeated route census, habitat monitoring, and group tracking for 25 months in two study sites (ca. 10 km apart) in the largely primary lowland dipterocarp forest of the Danum Valley Conservation Area, eastern Sabah, northern Borneo, Malaysia. The five species of diurnal primates (Bornean orangutan Pongo pygmaeus, Müeller's gibbon Hylobates muelleri, red leaf monkey Presbytis rubicunda, long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis, and southern pig-tailed macaque M. nemestrina) did not show horizontal spatial segregation. Red leaf monkeys showed preferences for places with short tree height, but their distribution was not confined to such places. In response to the fruiting peak observed once during the study period, orangutans increased their numbers simultaneously in the two study sites. The average tree height used by the five species was different, but their range overlapped substantially. Compared with other primate communities, the lack of horizontal spatial segregation and the suggested long-distance movement of orangutans seem to be unique characteristics in Borneo, although the use of different forest strata is a widespread phenomenon among primate communities throughout the world.

Does rank rule? Rank-related grooming patterns in Nicobar long-tailed macaques Macaca fascicularis umbrosus.

Primates maintain social bonds with specific individuals in the group by directing grooming toward them. Social grooming is often targeted toward individuals with whom the most benefits can be exchanged, which are usually the high-ranking individuals. We used the Seyfarth model to investigate whether dominance rank alters the distribution of grooming in a group of Macaca fascicularis umbrosus at Great Nicobar Island. We investigated whether dominance rank predicted grooming rate in both males and females. We used social network analysis to examine whether high-ranking animals maintain a central position in the grooming network. We also investigated whether adult individuals exchange grooming for social tolerance, as indicated by physical proximity. We found that more social grooming was directed toward high-ranking females, but not high-ranking males. Social network analysis suggested that high-ranking animals are not central individuals in the distribution of grooming; rather, middle-ranking animals were major contributors to the distribution of grooming. There was no relation between the grooming rate and proximity in both males and females. Overall, our findings suggest that females prefer to direct grooming toward high-ranking partners, although the dominance hierarchy is less steep than expected for Macaca fascicularis. Thus rank-related grooming patterns may be a relatively conserved trait in this isolated island population.

Do males bond? A study of male-male relationships in Nicobar long-tailed macaques Macaca fascicularis umbrosus

In primates, males compete for a mate, which is a non-sharable resource. This makes the conditions less conducive for males to have stable relationships. One such special kind of relationship is a bond where the interactions are reciprocated, equitable and differentiated. Bonds in macaque societies are based on the degree of within-group contest competition for mates which is dependent on the synchronization of female fertile phase and reliability of fertility signals. Species of the Fascicularis group, including Nicobar subspecies, show intermediate reliability in the signals with mild peaks, and studies have shown reciprocity but no differentiation. We conducted a study on a group of wild Nicobar long-tailed macaques Macaca fascicularis umbrosus to understand the existing patterns of male-male relationships. We examined whether there is reciprocity in affiliation among the individuals and whether the rate of affiliation is balanced. We also measured the dominance linearity and steepness in the group to understand the monopolizability of females. We used social network analysis to understand whether the relations are differentiated based on hierarchical position and whether the high-ranking individuals are the most central individuals in the distribution of grooming in the group. We found that there is reciprocity among the males although that is not equitable. There was no rankrelated differentiation of affiliation among the males of the group. Instead, the identities of individuals influenced affiliation patterns. Our results correspond to the existent strong relationships but lack of social bond otherwise found in the Fascicularis group of macaques.

Population Recovery of Nicobar Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosus following a Tsunami in the Nicobar Islands, India.

Natural disasters pose a threat to isolated populations of species with restricted distributions, especially those inhabiting islands. The Nicobar long tailed macaque.Macaca fascicularis umbrosus, is one such species found in the three southernmost islands (viz. Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar and Katchal) of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, India. These islands were hit by a massive tsunami (Indian Ocean tsunami, 26 December 2004) after a 9.2 magnitude earthquake. Earlier studies [Umapathy et al. 2003; Sivakumar, 2004] reported a sharp decline in the population of M. f. umbrosus after thetsunami. We studied the distribution and population status of M. f. umbrosus on thethree Nicobar Islands and compared our results with those of the previous studies. We carried out trail surveys on existing paths and trails on three islands to get encounter rate as measure of abundance. We also checked the degree of inundation due to tsunami by using Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) on landsat imageries of the study area before and after tsunami. Theencounter rate of groups per kilometre of M. f. umbrosus in Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar and Katchal was 0.30, 0.35 and 0.48 respectively with the mean group size of 39 in Great Nicobar and 43 in Katchal following the tsunami. This was higher than that reported in the two earlier studies conducted before and after the tsunami. Post tsunami, there was a significant change in the proportion of adult males, adult females and immatures, but mean group size did not differ as compared to pre tsunami. The results show that population has recovered from a drastic decline caused by tsunami, but it cannot be ascertained whether it has reached stability because of the altered group structure. This study demonstrates the effect of natural disasters on island occurring species.

The present status and distribution of Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis aurea (Mammalia: Primates: Cercopithecidae) in Bangladesh

An investigation was carried out to determine the present status of the Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fasiculularis aurea I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1830) in the mangrove coastal belt along the Naf river of Teknaf, Chakaria Sunderbans and Maheshkhali Island of Bangladesh. Eighteen visits were made from July 2007 to February 2011 and one group of three macaques was found at Keruntoli near Teknaf Port living within the home of 7.91 ha.

Abundance of primates reveals Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia as a priority area for conservation

AbstractWe conducted a primate survey in Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, western Cambodia, during the wet season in 2009. We visually confirmed the presence of five out of six primate species thought to occur in the area: Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis, Indochinese silvered langur Trachypithecus germaini, pileated gibbon Hylobates pileatus, pig-tailed macaque Macaca leonina and long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis. We did not find any sign of the stump-tailed macaque Macaca arctoides and suggest it is absent in Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary and possibly from the Cardamom Mountains. We provide the abundance measures for each primate species; the three most abundant species were Bengal slow loris, Indochinese silvered langur and pileated gibbon. We propose Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary as a priority for primate conservation in Cambodia.

Distribution and status of Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis aurea I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1830) in Bangladesh

Survey were conducted on the distribution and status of the Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis aurea of Bangladesh between December 2002 and January 2009. The whole south-eastern region and the Sundarbans were surveyed for the study by the transect method. Two groups of Long-tailed Macaques with a total of eight individuals were recorded from the mangrove patches on the banks of the river Naaf in Teknaf. Among these eight individuals were five adult males, two adult females and one juvenile. These two groups were then occupying an area of 16.7ha. These groups have been facing a continuous threats from habitat loss and human interference in Bangladesh.

Isolation and identification of a South China strain of Plasmodium inui from Macaca fascicularis

Southeast Asian macaques are hosts of a number of Plasmodium infections, some of which are transmittable to humans. During examination of blood films of five wild-caught long-tailed macaques Macaca fascicularis from South China, malaria infection was detected in one of the monkeys. In order to isolate this parasite for identification and characterization, we experimentally passed this parasite through both Assamese ( M. assamensis) and rhesus ( M. mulatta) monkeys by intravenous injection of infected blood. This parasite morphologically resembled Plasmodium inui, and had a typical 72 h quartan periodicity. This parasite was infective to Anopheles dirus mosquitoes, and salivary gland sporozoites appeared 13 days post feeding. Feeding by 20 infected An. dirus mosquitoes on another Assamese monkey produced infection with a prepatent period of 8 days. Molecular analysis of the small subunit rRNA genes and the mitochondrial genome confirmed this parasite as an isolate of P. inui. In spleen-intact macaques, the infection had a protracted duration with parasites being detected during the rearing of the infected monkeys for over two years. In summary, this study identified a P. inui isolate and successfully passed this parasite through Assamese monkeys by both intravenous inoculation and mosquito transmission.

Illegal primate trade in Indonesia exemplified by surveys carried out over a decade in North Sumatra

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 11:201-205 (2010) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00276 Contribution to Theme Section 'Primate conservation: measuring and mitigating trade in primates' Illegal primate trade in Indonesia exemplified by surveys carried out over a decade in North Sumatra Chris R. Shepherd* Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, School of Social Sciences and Law, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK Present address: TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Unit 3-2, 1st floor, Jalan SS23/11, Taman SEA, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia *Email: cstsea@po.jaring.my ABSTRACT: The illegal and unsustainable trade in primates is increasingly recognized as an urgent threat to their conservation. From 1997 to 2008, 66 surveys were conducted at bird markets in Medan, North Sumatra, where primates are sold openly. In total,1953 primates of 10 species were observed, the most common of which were the long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis (774 ind.), the greater slow loris Nycticebus coucang (714 ind.) and the pig-tailed macaque M. nemestrina (380 ind.). Six of the species observed are totally protected in Indonesia, yet were openly traded. Trade in the remaining 4 species is regulated through a harvest and trade quota system, but no quotas are allotted for them to be traded as pets. Therefore, all trade in primates observed in these markets is deemed illegal. The Indonesian authorities should be encouraged to take action against this illegal trade in Medan. Markets selling illegal wildlife should be closed down, and individuals found illegally trading in primates should be prosecuted. KEY WORDS: CITES . Conservation . Primates . Wildlife trade Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Shepherd CR (2010) Illegal primate trade in Indonesia exemplified by surveys carried out over a decade in North Sumatra. Endang Species Res 11:201-205. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00276Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 11, No. 3. Online publication date: April 30, 2010 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2010 Inter-Research.

Status of the long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis in Singapore and implications for management

The long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) population of the island-state of Singapore consists of ca. 1,218–1,454 individuals. About seventy percent of the population (ca. 1,027 individuals) is concentrated in both Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves, a system of reservoirs and forest reserves located in the center of Singapore. This core population resides mainly along perimeter forest areas of the reserve system, which is bordered by residential and recreational areas (e.g., parks and golf courses) and encircled by expressways. Periphery sub-populations (ca. 427 individuals) persist in forest fragments throughout Singapore mainland and on 5 offshore islands. Much of the Singaporean macaque population overlaps with human settlement and these commensal groups are mainly distributed close to roads, parks and residential areas. At least 70% of these groups are habituated to human presence and at least 50% to food provisioning. Moreover, commensal groups have more individuals and have higher infant:adult female ratios than non-commensal groups. The close association of habituated macaque groups living in human environments has led to increasing human-macaque conflict in Singapore. The overlap is also associated with human-induced population loss resulting from road accidents (2.4%); and trapping efforts (14%) aimed at ameliorating conflict issues. Consequently, it is important to better understand how humans are affecting macaque populations. In order to mitigate human-macaque conflict and at the same maintain a sustainable macaque population in Singapore, there is an urgent need for wildlife management strategies aimed at minimizing the extent of human–macaque conflict. Such strategies should include designing appropriate buffers around reserve areas, revised urban development plans, and managing the behavior of people interfacing with macaques.