Five trials of chasing wild Japanese monkeys (
Macaca fuscata) using hunting dogs (
Canis familiaris) were conducted for the purpose of protecting agricultural fields in Nikko, Tochigi prefecture. Trials were conducted on 12 days between 1994 and 1997. The 61-83 member troop and dogs were tracked by radio-telemetry. Three dog breeds were used; plott hound, beagle and a hybrid of plott hound and beagle. The troop, which was chased by hunting dogs, fled immediately from the agricultural fields to nearby coniferous plantations, and finally to broadleaved deciduous forests. The daily moving distance of the troop was longer under chasing conditions than before or after the trials. As a result of chasing, monkeys feeding in agricultural fields decreased in number; however, upon ceasing the trials, the troop returned within several days and continued to damage crops. This revealed that short-term chasing may have temporal, but not permanent effects.
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