from Part III - Ethnophoresy of long-tailed macaques
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 May 2011
The only non-human primate population in Oceania is on the Island of Ngeaur in the Republic of Palau. This population of macaques, M. fascicularis, was the result of ethnophoresy, the dispersal of animals by humans. German colonialists introduced about a half-dozen macaques from Indonesia around 1909. Islanders view these macaques not only as agricultural pests to be hunted, but also, in a limited sense as an increasing part of their natural heritage. Ngeaur is a useful case study for ethnoprimatology to better understand what causes communities to choose conservation, control, or eradication of commensal macaques, which will be important as human and non-human primate interactions continue to increase around the globe. Ethnoprimatologists can also offer counsel to Palauan communities living near macaques by providing guidance on management strategies. Population surveys of the macaques on Ngeaur have estimated the population to be slightly less than 1,000 individuals, which is twice the size of the human population. This chapter discusses how the local communities can control their macaque population by limiting macaque dispersal into the southern part of Ngeaur where taro gardens are located and onto the other islands of Palau. Totally eradicating the macaques may not be necessary nor economically in Palau's best interest. Dispersal management will be a more cost effective approach than eradication efforts, which can be expensive to implement. Macaques could also be used to draw economic gains from tourism, providing a resource to local communities.
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