Introduction

The crab-eating/long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) has been a popular animal to study. Not only is it extensively used in research, it is also observed and studied in its natural environment by primatologists.

The long-tailed macaque is an edge species, and can be found at the edge of secondary forest, or in cities, farmlands and temple grounds (Gumert, 2011). Hence there can be frequent coexistence or sympatry with humans. Long-tailed macaques are found all over Southeast Asia. And there are also human introduced populations in other places such as Palau (Poirer & Smith, 1984), Mauritius (Sussman & Tattersall, 1986) and Hong Kong (Southwick & Southwick, 1983).

The frequent sympatry of long-tailed macaques and humans sets the stage for the human-macaque interface. Gumert (2011) describes the relationship between humans and macaques as generally commensal, which means that the macaques benefit from humans without harming or benefiting them. However, he also claims that there are times when this relationship is also parasitic or mutually beneficial. Examples of a mutually beneficial relationship is the use of macaques as tourist attractions. Whereas parasitic relationships include macaque crop raiding and pests-like behavior. The human-macaque interface hence also includes conflict between the two species.

Whereas there is considerable literature on the human-macaque conflict, the human psychological basis of it is still insufficiently explored. This website will attempt to suggest the basis of human-macaque conflict based on theories of conservation psychology. Admittedly, that would sometimes mean making at best educated inferences on the topic.