A Preliminary Study on Human and Long-tailed Macaque Conflict in Karst Habitat of Gunungkidul: Public Opinion

A Preliminary Study on Human and Long-tailed Macaque Conflict in Karst Habitat of  Gunungkidul: Public Opinion

Agnita Nunung Nugroho Wulanadji¹, A.Heru Tricahyanto²

¹Pascasarjana Student,Faculty of Biology,Universitas Gadjah Mada

²Komunitas Pemuda Pecinta Alam, Gunungkidul, Jogjakarta Province

tricahyantoh@yahoo.com

Abstract

Homo sapiens have historically coexisted with long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis [Rafles,1821]) throughout South and Southeast Asia. This species is the most wide distributed among primates because of its capabilities to adapt in a wide variety of habitats both in and outside its natural range, including secondary and disturbed forest. In their outside natural habitat they have close association with human. This close association has developed into a complex relationship where both species positively and negatively impact each other. For example, human and long-tailed macaque conflict had been reported from Indonesia, Malaysia,Singapore,Thailand and India.

Public opinion plays important role in the planning and management of wildlife. This survey

using semi-structured interview method taken from 60 participants covering Tepus,Tanjungsari,Saptosari and Paliyan residence. These 4 areas was reported crop-raiding by long-tailed macaques. This study conducted on the intensity of man-monkey conflict, as proposed by Chauhan and Pirta (2010), and pest behaviour of long-tailed macaques.

This preliminary  study was planned to explore the opinion of the people about the level of  human-monkey conflict  and solution to reduce it. In addtion we collect possibilities local wisdom  to solve the problems from public opinion.

In karst habitat of Gunungkidul, long-tailed macaques activites damaged to crops. Long-tailed macaques alsa attack livelihood and taken chicken egg at Purwodadi Village. This attack always occurs every dry season in different intensities. Public opinion tend to be negative because lost of potential harvested crop and clasified  long-tailed macaques as pest animal.

Keywords: long-tailed macaques, conflict, human, karst habitat

(Presenter in International Congres on Biological Science, Fakultas Biologi Universitas Gadjah Mada, 2011)