Population Status and Threats to Survival of Rhesus Monkey Macaca Mulatta (Zimmermann, 1780) in Bajrabarahi Area, Lalitpur Nepal

Abstract

The Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are well-known Old-World non-human primates which are commonly found to inhabit various religious sites and cities in Nepal. There are several types of threats found in them. The parasite and human monkey conflict are the major types of threats. This study was carried out in Bajrabarahi area Lalitpur to find the population status and possible threats of Rhesus monkey. Direct observation methods were used for population count, questionnaire survey was used for human monkey conflict and direct wet mount, sedimentation, floatation, and acid-fast staining techniques were used for the parasitic assessment. The collected data were analyzed with the use of Chi square test and MS EXCEL 2010 and data were presented in charts, Table, graphs and bar diagrams were used to present the data in a simplified and understandable form. The estimated population was 46 individuals. The human monkey conflict was increasing order. Total 80 respondents were part icipated in the survey the age from 15-60 years. Most of the respondents said that the human monkey conflict was due increasing the population and scarcity of the foods. Furthermore, cent percent prevalence with 12 varied species of the gut parasites were detected like Ascarid spp., Balantidium coli, Cryptosporidium sp., Eimeria sp., Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba spp., Giardia sp., hookworm, Strongyloides sp., Strongylid spp., Trichomonas sp., and Trichuris sp. suggesting parasitic infection as a major threat for the survival of these urban macaques.