General Behaviour and Human Perception to Wards the Assamese Monkey (Macaca assamensis McClelland, 1840) in Hemja Kaski, Nepal

Abstract

Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) is one of the least studied mammals in Nepal. This study is focused on Assamese macaque, and its general behaviour and human perception towards it in Hemja, Kaski District, Nepal. The study site is in the Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward number 25 in Yamdi area of Hemja. Focal animal sampling method was used for the behavioural observations and semi-structured questionnaires were used to find the peoples' attitude/perception towards the macaque. To determine the general behaviour of the monkey, six individuals were selected for focal animal sampling. Four major behaviours were recorded from the Assamese macaque for behaviour study during observation phase and it was revealed that macaque spent 26.11% time on foraging, 23.71% on social, 33.58% on resting and 16.6% on moving. Disturbance and destruction of the things was the main problem with monkeys in this area. There was significant difference (χ2=7.24, df=1, p=0.0071) on provisioning activities to the macaque (N=80) between insiders and visitors of the monastery. The results revealed that 28.81% of the respondents provisioned monkeys for sympathy, 27.12% did it by giving surplus food, 18.64% supplied food for enjoyment, 11.86% for evacuating invading monkey from their areas, 6.78% had no specific reasons and 6.78% provided food to the monkeys due to the religious faith. Many people around the monastery (58.46%, N=65) agreed that macaque should be conserved in their natural habitats. In overall, people had positive perception towards the macaque due to the sympathy, enjoyment, religious faith as well as tolerance to the disturbance and destruction. Home range, diet and behaviour of the macaque were significantly changed due to their habituation in human settlement area. Keywords: Assamese macaque, Behaviour, Provisioning, Yamdi, Nepal.