This also rings true in Malaysia, where conflict with long-tailed macaques is common. Also known as “kera”, they are frequently deemed as pests due to their purported “mischief” in residential areas.
One of the common complaints is that these primates can be seen “bin raiding”, a term 23-year-old environmentalist Ashwiini Paranjothi prefers not to use.
The project manager of Animal Neighbours Project (ANP) explained that the macaques are “actually displaying natural behaviour as they are simply foraging for food”.
The environmental conservation organisation, based in Malaysia and the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, aims to create awareness on human-wildlife interaction in urban spaces.
Founder Sharmini Julita Paramasivam was inspired to start the NGO in 2014 in response to the massive culling of long-tailed macaques.
More than 97,000 individuals were culled by the wildlife department in 2012 alone. There are also those who try to poison them.
In 2016, ANP became an official project at the University of Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine, where Sharmini works as a senior academic.
In Malaysia, the organisation works with local communities and relevant stakeholders to mitigate human-macaque conflict in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
“Our goal is to help people coexist with the animals,” Ashwiini told FMT. “To do that, we need to learn to respect their boundaries and understand why they’re coming into neighbourhoods.”
To stop the primates from raiding rubbish bins, ANP has come up with a monkey-proof bin latch, about 200 of which have been handed out for free in residential areas.
“We hope to get funding to distribute more,” she said, adding that members of the public can contact them should they require the latch.
Do not feed the monkeys
According to Ashwiini, many people feed monkeys out of concern for their welfare, but this actually results in more harm.
By doing so, humans lure the animals into the city, which diminishes their survival abilities. Irregular feeding can also cause them to display aggressive behaviours, while making them larger in size and more susceptible to disease.
In addition, many people misinterpret a macaque’s “smile” as a sign of friendliness. “It’s actually called a fear grin, and it signifies the monkey is uncomfortable with the situation,” Ashwiini explained.
“If you smile back, they might see it as a form of intimidation, which could lead to potential conflict.”
All in all, it’s best not to make direct eye contact with macaques, and avoid interacting with their infants.
Ashwiini added that ANP has designed and put up signboards stating the dos and don’ts of encountering macaques.
“We want people to come to us when they face conflict, but do remember there’s no simple solution,” she said.
Unbeknownst to many, the monkeys play an important role in the ecosystem by pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds.
And although it might seem like they have a huge population, long-tailed macaques are specified as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Ultimately, ANP wants to change people’s perception of these animals.
“They often have a bad reputation,” she added, “but the truth is, they are a vulnerable wildlife species trying to survive in a world populated by humans.”
For more information, check out Animal Neighbours Project’s website, as well as its Facebook and Instagram profiles.