Eco-behavioural profile of a semi-provisioned population of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Bangkok (Thailand): a preliminary study

In South and Southeast Asia, some primate populations live near human habitat and receive a food provisioning from humans. Provisioning is known to influence various aspects of demography as well as ecological and social behaviour of nonhuman primates’ populations. Concerning social aspects, increased levels of agonistic interactions have been reported and explained by the high concentration in time and space of provisioned resources. In the current study, we focused on a long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) population living in the South of Bangkok suburban habitat (Thailand) and receiving a partial provisioning in food from local humans. The aim of this study was to establish the eco-behavioural profile of the studied population in collecting data about the demography, the diet, the activity budget and the frequency and the intensity of aggressions occurred within groups. We found coherent results with other studies on provisioned groups of macaques except for aggression subject. Actually, we observed a weak level of aggressions as well as an absence of direct impact of food provisioning on the intensity of aggressions. We suggest this result can be explained by the large abundance of available food which can decrease the food competition and the associated aggressions. This study supports the short term capacity of adaptation of long-tailed macaques to disturbed conditions but some risks for conservation at long term require further research to draw up efficacious management plans.