Human interactions threaten endangered lion-tailed macaque

Increasingly habituated to humans and the subsequent sourcing of food have altered their behaviour, say researchers from Kerala Forest Research Institute. The endangered lion-tailed macaque species is endemic to the Western Ghats

Human-wildlife interaction, especially non-human primates, is a growing concern in areas where roads and plantations continue to encroach on natural habitats. A recent study warns of a growing threat to the critically endangered lion-tailed macaque, endemic to the Western Ghats of India due to increasing human interaction.

“The genus Macaca, known for its adaptability to human-altered environments, often engages with humans, a behaviour that, while seemingly beneficial, poses serious risks to both animals and people,” according to a study conducted by Sheheer T.A. and Dr. Peroth Balakrishnan, researchers from the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) and Prof. Mewa Singh from the University of Mysore.

The study published in the journal ‘Primate Conservation’ reveal that increased food provisioning and habituation to human activity are jeopardising the survival of lion-tailed macaque, an endangered species endemic to the Western Ghats.

The researchers surveyed the roads crossing through the lion-tailed macaque habitats across eight key locations along the Western Ghats, including the Anamalai Hills, Nelliyampathy, Nilambur Ghats, Sholayar, Gavi, Sabarimala, Vallimalai Hills and Agumbe.

“Approximately 25% of the macaque population in these areas engage in interactions with humans. This includes accepting food from tourists, raiding waste, and entering human settlements. The lion-tailed macaque, with only about 4,200 individuals remaining, faces severe risks due to food provisioning, which leads to malnutrition, disease, and dependency on unnatural food sources and increased vulnerability to road accidents and aggression from humans,” says Dr. Peroth Balakrishnan, co-author of the paper and Head of the Department of Wildlife Biology, KFRI.

Specific hotspots like Valparai, Nelliyampathy, and Sabarimala have seen rising macaque interactions, especially due heightened tourist and pilgrim footfall. Valparai, in particular, has a decades-long record of human-macaque interaction, with over 180 macaques regularly engaging with humans.

“Unlike most regions where interactions between lion-tailed macaques and humans are relatively recent, the Puthuthottam population in the Valparai Hills offers a unique, decades-long record of such interactions. Initially, these macaques avoided human food even when accessible, but habitat disruptions and increased tourism have drastically altered their behaviour. Provisioning by tourists has led to dependence on human food, shifting their foraging habits and creating conflicts,” said Prof. Mewa Singh, co-author and renowned primatologist.

The lion-tailed macaque is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List and protected under Appendix I of CITES. Its population faces threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and human encroachment.

The long-term consequences of increased human interaction include: increased exposure to zoonotic diseases and diet-related illnesses; behavioural changes like reduced foraging in natural habitats and increased reliance on human-provided food and population decline through rise in injuries, roadkill incidents, and stress-induced mortality, according to the study.

The researchers stress the critical need for immediate intervention, including public awareness campaigns to discourage feeding wildlife, enforcing regulations against food provisioning, and promoting habitat restoration. Dr. Mewa Singh calls for collective action to balance human activity with wildlife conservation, warning that without prompt action, the species may face extinction.

Published - December 24, 2024 07:15 pm IST