CONSERVATION STATUS
CITES: all subspecies Appendix II
(http://www.cites.org)
IUCN Red
List:
LRn/t (M. f. fascicularis, M. f. aurea, M. f.
philippinensis); NT (M. f. umbrosa); DD (M. f. atriceps,
M. f. condorensis, M. f. fusca, M. f. lasiae,
M. f. tua, M. f. karimondjawae)
(http://www.redlist.org)
The majority of subspecies of long-tailed macaques (M. f. atriceps,
M. f. condorensis, M. f. fusca, M. f. lasiae,
M. f. tua, and M. f. karimondjawae) have been classified
by the IUCN as data deficient (DD); there
is inadequate information about them to assess the risk of extinction
based on distribution and population status. The other subspecies,
M. f. fascicularis, M. f. aurea, and M. f. philippinensis,
have been
classified as lower risk but near threatened (LR/nt) while M. f. umbrosa is
near threatened (NT). The international trade of all long-tailed macaques is
legal but subject to regulation by CITES.
CONSERVATION THREATS & POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
Threat: Invasive Alien Species
Though there are no data available for the effects of invasive alien
species on long-tailed macaque conservation, the long-tailed macaque is
itself an invasive alien species causing serious damage to parts of its
range where it has been introduced and populations grow unchecked due to a lack of natural predators (Poirier & Smith 1974; Crockett pers. comm.). For example, the population of long-tailed macaques established on the island
of Mauritius has created serious conservation concerns for other
endemic
species. With no natural predators on the island, the long-tailed
macaque population has grown unchecked for almost a half century
(Stanley 2003). They consume seeds of native plants and help spread
exotic weeds throughout the forests, changing the composition of native forests, causing them to be quickly overrun by invasive plant species.
They also have directly contributed to the near extinction of several
bird species on Mauritius, including the Mauritian green parrot and the
pink pigeon. Long-tailed macaques destroy the nests of these birds as
they move through their home ranges and cause direct mortality by eating
the eggs of these critically endangered species (Stanley 2003; Temple
pers. comm.).
Threat: Persecution
Though they are not currently threatened, long-tailed macaques are
subject to persecution where they come into contact with humans as
crop raiders. They can be serious agricultural pests, raiding gardens and
eating fruits including oranges, bananas, and coconuts as well as staple
crops such as taro, sweet potatoes, rice, and cassava root. This
relationship has probably been going on since human agriculture began in
the range of long-tailed macaques. In response, humans often shoot the
monkeys and can eliminate entire local populations (Wheatley et al.
1999).
Threat: Human Disturbance
Harvesting long-tailed macaques for biomedical research was once a
serious threat to survival but this practice has largely ended
(Supriatna et al. 1996). A natural habitat breeding colony in Indonesia
was established in the 1980s in order to harvest from
semi-wild, managed populations instead of natural populations (Kyes et
al. 1998).
LINKS TO MORE ABOUT CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION INFORMATION
CONSERVATION NEWS
Content last modified: January 6, 2006
Written by Kristina Cawthon Lang. Reviewed by Carolyn Crockett.
Cite this page as:
Cawthon Lang KA. 2006 January 6. Primate Factsheets: Long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) Conservation. <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/long-tailed_macaque/cons>. Accessed 2008 May 16.
