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IPCA's Brochure on Preserving Living Landscapes in Asmat
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Take a virtual flyover of New Guinea and Asmat...
Watch video of IPCA presentations at the 2004 MountainFilm symposium on New Guinea
Macaques
The Long-tailed or Crab-eating Macaque, Macaca fascicularis, was introduced into the Jayapura area of northeastern Papua sometime in the very recent past. Because macaques are not native to the island, New Guinea's native fauna evolved in the absence of competition from non-human primates and so they lack defenses and are unable to compete with macaques. Macaca fascicularis thus poses a significant threat to the plants and animals of the island. Although the current population of macaques is small and geographically confined to forest fragments around the city of Jayapura, given the adaptibility, mobility and high reproductive rates of macaques, the species has a very high potential to spread into the greater forest hinterland of Papua, across the Central Mountain Ranges, and beyond to Papua New Guinea. If this were to occur, the damage to New Guinea's biodiversity could be incalculable, as well as have serious negative consequences for human health and rural economies.
In 2003, IPCA completed the first ever comprehensive scientific study of the biodiversity impacts posed by alien macaque populations (click here to read the full report in English or Bahasa Indonesia).
Current populations of Macaca fascicularis in Papua consist of six separate troops that inhabit primary and secondary forest “islands” south of Jayapura city. The current forest habitat of Jayapura macaques does not prevent its colonization of new areas, as the troops can and do move across non-forested areas.
IPCA documented that non-native macaques threaten both the unique biodiversity and rural livelihoods of Papua. Macaques both out-compete native species for food resources, as well as directly prey on insects, crabs, frog and bird eggs, nestling birds, and other small vertebrate animals. M. fascicularis may also assist in the spread of other alien invasive plant species such as Passiflora suberosa. They are also agricultural pests and crop-raiders, eating cassava, maize, beans and other fruits and vegetables, and significantly damaging the income of poor local farmers. M. fascicularis has already become invasive in Mauritius, where they have caused long-term alteration of the habitat. Indeed, the introduction of Macaca fascicularis to Mauritius was probably one of the main factors in the the extinction of the dodo. As a carrier of diseases, including the B-virus (Herpesvirus simiae) which is almost always fatal to humans, the macaques also pose a potential threat to the health of the people of Papua and PNG.
IPCA’s study documented the negative impact of M. fascicularis on native New Guinea species, ecosystems, and rural economies, as well as their significant public health risk. Unless population control measures are taken in the very near future, M. fascicularis populations in Papua are highly likely to become invasive in the future. If this occurs, there is a high probability of additional and more severe negative impacts on the environment and rural livelihoods. Given the probable consequences of macaques becoming invasive, immediate implementation of a risk management program, involving threat removal (i.e., population control), community awareness and dialogue efforts, and capacity and policy-level enhancements, is of the highest priority.
IPCA continues to monitor the status of the Papua macaques, which remain confined to the immediate Jayapura area but have the potential to colonize adjacent forest at any time.
Visit our maps page to see the distribution of M. fascicularis in its native range and in Papua.