Human-Wildlife Conflict

Conflicts between humans and banded leaf monkeys over land space represent common challenges to conservation. In Conservation Psychology, there are 3 types of relationship between human and wildlife:

  • Mutualistic relationship – develops when 2 organisms of different species work together and benefit from one another
  • Parasitic relationship – develops when one organism benefits at the expense of the other, possibly causing harm to the latter
  • Commensal relationship – develops when one organism benefits without affecting the other

Currently, humans and banded leaf monkeys are engaged in a parasitic relationship due to the conflicting interest over land space. Ideally, the development of Cross Island Line around Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) will benefit residents in the long run with better transport efficiency. It is also a strategy to discourage people from relying on private transportation to curb traffic congestion and overpopulation issue. On the other hand, banded surilis are restricted to and dependent on their one and only habitat in CCNR for survival values.

Threats to personal benefits can influence people’s attitudes towards banded surilis and support for wildlife management strategies. Defensive thinking results when individual’s basic wants, such as the desire for better transport networks, are incompatible with their rational judgement that the species’ habitat is threatened by infrastructure development. This overall sum of evaluation could result in feelings of denial, cause individuals to repress their awareness of the conflict, and allow them to rationalise their anti-environmental friendly behaviour (i.e. give in to the construction of Cross Island Line) as having no alternative.

As banded surilis are native to Singapore, it is considered a national heritage. In addition, this species plays an important role in the forest ecological system. Thus, it would be ideal for both organisms to engage in a mutualistic relationship, where humans recognise the integral role banded leaf monkeys play in the ecology of their habitat – they help the forest by being pollinators, seed predators, and seed dispersers. This conflict can be resolved through education.