Behavioural ecology of commensal populations of macaques in Asia

Throughout the world and especially in Asia, humans and primates are increasingly living in sympatric association, interacting and competing for resources and space. The macaques, mainly distributed throughout Asia, with one species in North Africa (Thierry et al., 2004), are particularly successful in human managed habitats where their eclectic diet allows them to thrive. Moreover, food provisioning, often associated with religious practices and believes, becomes an important part of their feeding regime (Fuentes et al., 2007; Lee & Priston, 2005). Our study is an attempt to analyze the impact of the anthropic pressure on the ecology, the behaviour and, ultimately, the survival of one of these commensal primate species. A first study conducted in Bangkok (Thailand), suggests the impact of the food provisioning on the behavioural ecology of the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) (Brotcorne et al., in preparation). We now start a project focusing on several long-tailed macaque populations living around Hindu temple areas on the island of Bali (Indonesia). Through a comparative approach, we intend to assess individual and combined effects of food provisioning and habitat type on population dynamics, diet, activity budget and ranging behaviour of these macaque troops in order to reach a preliminary assessment of the status and the long term viability of the studied macaque populations.