Perceptual characteristics in Japanese macaques and possibilities of their applications for wildlife damage management

Abstract

This paper reviews visual, auditory, and chemosensory characteristics in nonhuman primates including Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata, and the effectiveness of present methods and devices to prevent crop damage caused by birds and mammals including primates. We then discuss possibilities of the use of perceptual characteristics of primates for damage management in Japanese macaques. Some techniques using visual or auditory stimuli are expected to be effective, while habituation to the stimuli should be avoided by using various cues singly or in combination. At present, chemosensory methods appear to be ineffective in preventing crop damage by monkeys. It is emphasized that systematic approaches such as habitat management to reduce monkeys' dependency on agricultural crops are needed to make methods using perceptual stimuli more effective.