Community Perceptions of the Crop-Feeding Buton Macaque (Macaca ochreata brunnescens): an Ethnoprimatological Study on Buton Island, Sulawesi

摘要: Human–wildlife overlap is increasing worldwide as a result of agricultural expansion. This can reduce human tolerance wildlife, especially if wildlife threatens food sources. The greatest threat to the declining populations endemic Buton macaque (Macaca ochreata brunnescens) habitat destruction, but common crop-feeding species, there also an additional risk retaliation killings from farmers. Finding means reducing this will thus help secure long-term future range-restricted subspecies. Here, we investigate variability in farmers’ perceptions primate and mitigation techniques three farming communities on Island, Indonesia, which differ wealth resources. We employ mixed methodology, collecting qualitative social data focus groups quantitative observational measure occurrences. Our findings indicate that least wealthy community used lethal control methods more frequently than comparatively wealthier communities, even when problem was less severe. expressed high levels fear macaques, had most negative them. no knowledge macaques’ conservation status or their ecological roles. recommend efforts protect macaques education use effective nonlethal techniques, such electric fencing. suggest initiatives support measures may be effectively directed toward with relatively low economic reliance subsistence agriculture, where feared, do not experience highest losses wildlife.