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Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad

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20231
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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Author: MONISHA V. × Start date: 2020 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    SOCIAL AND FEEDING BEHAVIOUR IN FREE-RANGING AND CAPTIVE POPULATIONS OF LION-TAILED MACAQUE (Macaca silenus)
    (COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES POOKODE, WAYANAD, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-02-21) MONISHA V.; Dr. Sabin George
    Lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) habitat distribution was continuous population extends from a few kilo meters north of the Sharavati River in Karnataka to the Agasthyamalai hills at the southern tip of the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats are geologically split into two parts, separated by a 40-km-long gap near Palghat in the state of Kerala; this gap naturally divides the northern and southern populations of the lion-tailed macaque. Even within these two large ranges, the rain forest has become fragmented due to the development of commercial plantations and the construction of water reservoirs in the hills for irrigation and power generation. As a result, the lion-tailed macaque groups inhabiting these forest fragments have become small breeding populations. The social and feeding behaviour of Lion tailed macaques in free range were studied at Silent Valley National Park (11˚ 06’ N and 76˚ 42’E) and captive lion tailed macaques at Thiruvanathapuram Zoological Garden captivity during 2019-2021. The mapping of lion tailed macaques distribution, habitat identification, vegetation sampling in the Silent Valley national park using transect based quadrate sampling method by using binoculars, GPS and maps during the field visit. During the field work, all the behavioural activities were video recorded in the free range and at captivity. During the field survey six troop of lion tailed macaques, 114 individuals were sighted, with mean group size of 18.6 and adult male, female ratio was ranged from 1:2.5 to 1:8. The vegetation studies revealed 112 plant species were identified and out of that 36 plant species were commonly used. Lion tailed macaques, arboreal, fruigvorous animals and diet preferences were adaptable to the season. Macaques were preferred feeding on Kuranguplavu (Cullenia exarillata) fruits and flowers during summer (10.2 per cent), south west monsoon (21.4 per cent) and north east monsoon (25.6 per cent). While compared to lion tailed macaques housed in Thiruvanathapuram zoo, six macaques were in closed cages and five macaques were housed in open enclosure with dry moat and vegetation area. The diet preferences for macaques in captivity were in the order of egg, different varieties of banana, pineapple, water melon, groundnut and grapes. Comparing the behaviour traits of wild macaques in silent valley park and at Zoos are different by their places, seasons and troop size. The activity analysis among different age group of macaques in silent valley park exhibited normal social behaviours like feeding (46.5 per cent), grooming (26.2 per cent), foraging (5.4 per cent), resting (13.4 per cent) in adult macaques during summer season. The macaques housed in Thiruvananthapuram Zoo are aged, old male and female (more than 13 years old) except three zoo born macaques. The enrichment of feeding area, sleeping sites proposals were studied and implemented. The abnormal begging behaviour, showing teeth, fighting were not observed in the macaques in captivity, however, stealing food and dominance hierarchy were evident among open enclosure macaques. The welfare measures for macaques in captivity may be considered by enriching their diet chart, based on the macaque’s activity and maintenance requirement.