Ecotourism is having a negative effect on primate's behavior

Date:
April 25, 2022
Source:
University of Portsmouth
Summary:
New research shows that the increase in primate ecotourism is
having a negative effect on monkey's behavior. The study found that
this fast- growing tourism sector where tourists can conveniently
reach primates via motor boats is causing stress-related behaviors
in monkeys.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
New research shows that the increase in primate ecotourism is having a
negative effect on monkey's behaviour.


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The study, led by the University of Portsmouth, found that this
fast-growing tourism sector where tourists can conveniently reach primates
via motor boats is causing stress-related behaviours in monkeys.

The research looked at the impact of a single engine motor boat
approaching a community of proboscis monkeys, an endangered species
living in a remote riparian area (strips of vegetation that border
rivers, streams and lakes) in Sabah, Malaysia. Proboscis monkeys are
unusual looking with their very long noses, which adds to making them
appealing to tourists.

Many of these boats, carrying multiple tourists, approach the primates
quickly and loudly, often reaching the river banks just a few metres
away from the wildlife.

The researchers found that frequent visits by such groups, which often
involve an unusually high level of noise, caused stress-related behaviours
in the primates such as self-scratching, an increased vigilant state,
increased levels of aggression and reduced feeding.

Lead author of the study, Dr Marina Davila-Ross, Reader in Comparative Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, said: "Our evidence shows that
even a single motor boat moving slowly, with humans behaving calmly,
can negatively affect the primate's behaviour and induce stress --
an impact that is likely to be larger with tourist boats.



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"The riparian area is an important habitat that has become increasingly
popular to primate ecotourism, because it enables tourists to conveniently reach primates via motor boats." The researchers conducted the experiment
by approaching the monkeys in a motor boat with different speeds and
travel distances -- fast-close (approaching the monkeys for 10 seconds
when 40 metres away at a speed of 14.4 km/hr), slow- close (approaching
the monkey for 40 seconds when 40 metres away at a speed of 3.6 km/hr),
and slow-far conditions (approaching the monkeys for 20 seconds when 100
metres away, at a speed of 3.6 km/hr). For each condition, they compared stress-related behaviours before the boat approached with after the boat started its approach.

The results showed that the monkeys displayed stress-related behaviours
for longer in the fast-close and slow-close conditions and also
reduced feeding as a result of the boat approaching in the fast-close condition. They also found that male proboscis monkeys displayed more
vigilant behaviour than females.

Once the boat started to approach, the proboscis monkeys gazed at
the boat for longer than before the boat approached, showed repeated scratching, and often moved quickly backwards to hide in the trees. This
could potentially cause the monkeys to leave their safe sleeping sites
and to retreat deep into the forest as it gets dark, where they could
face a higher risk of predation.

Dr Davila-Ross said: "Collectively, our findings suggest that the
approach of a single motor boat induces stress in proboscis monkeys
when approaching them as closely as 60 metres from the other side of
the river, regardless of the speed of approach. The findings match
those obtained in studies on sea mammals and birds, suggesting that
stress is a universal response across animals when a boat approaches --
a large, loud, and artificial object moving toward them is likely to
be threatening." The researchers propose that guidelines for primate
tourism in the riparian areas, which are largely unregulated, should
include an approach speed of no more than 4 km/hr within 100 metres of the proboscis monkeys. They suggest it is also important to keep a distance, preferably no closer than 60 metres away, from the monkeys.

Dr Davila-Ross added: "Our study highlights the importance of keeping
a distance from proboscis monkeys and perhaps also other primates in
the riparian area when in motorboats, and preferably approaching them
similarly as in the slow-far condition, where we observed no impact. Such information might be helpful for tourists, allowing them to modify their behaviours when visiting the primates and when encouraging guides to
follow the guidelines."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Portsmouth. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Marina Davila-Ross, Helen Pople, Violet Gibson, Senthilvel K. S. S.

Nathan, Benoit Goossens, Danica J. Stark. An Approaching Motor Boat
Induces Stress-Related Behaviors in Proboscis Monkeys (Nasalis
larvatus) Living in a Riparian Area. International Journal of
Primatology, 2022; DOI: 10.1007/s10764-022-00277-z ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220425104845.htm

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