Why in News?
- A report on a Japanese macaque named “Punch”, isolated early and reintroduced later, highlights how early maternal deprivation affects primate behaviour and social integration.
- Observations raise broader questions on social hierarchies, dominance systems, stress, and adaptation in macaque societies.
- The case provides insights relevant to wildlife management, zoo ethics, and primate behavioural research.
Relevance
GS Paper III – Environment & Biodiversity
- Behavioural ecology and conservation.
- Human–wildlife conflict (urban macaques).
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
GS Paper I – Society (Comparative Insight)
- Hierarchies, social learning, group behaviour (sociological parallels).
Mains Practice Question (15 Marks)
- Behavioural ecology insights are essential for effective wildlife conservation. Discuss with reference to primate social structures and habitat fragmentation.
Macaques in India and Asia
Taxonomy and Distribution
- Macaques belong to genus Macaca, family Cercopithecidae.
- India hosts species such as:
- Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)
- Bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata)
- Assam macaque (Macaca assamensis)
- Lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) (endangered, Western Ghats).
- Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) native to Japan; known as “snow monkey”.
Conservation Status
- Lion-tailed macaque: Endangered (IUCN).
- Rhesus macaque: Least Concern, but involved in urban human-wildlife conflict.
- Protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (India) — different schedules for species.
Social Structure of Macaques
1. Matrilineal Hierarchy
- Japanese macaques exhibit female philopatry (females remain in natal group).
- Rank of daughters often correlates with mother’s dominance status.
- Hierarchy maintained through grooming, alliances, and ritualised aggression.
2. Dominance and Aggression
- Higher-ranked individuals display aggression toward lower-ranked members.
- Aggression may serve:
- Reinforcement of rank order
- Resource competition (food, mates)
- Social discipline mechanism
- Not random violence but structured behavioural pattern.
3. Role of Maternal Bonding
- Classic studies by Harry Harlow (1950s) showed maternal deprivation in rhesus macaques leads to:
- Social withdrawal
- Stress behaviours
- Impaired peer interaction
- Early-life trauma affects integration into hierarchical systems.
Behavioural Ecology Dimensions
1. Social Learning
- Macaques exhibit cultural transmission (e.g., potato-washing behaviour in Japanese macaques).
- Juveniles learn grooming, foraging, and rank navigation through maternal and peer modelling.
2. Group Cohesion and Survival
- Primates rely on social groups for:
- Predator avoidance
- Resource defence
- Emotional regulation
- Unlike herd animals, primates operate under complex social rules and coalition-building.
Psychological and Evolutionary Insights
- Early stress influences cortisol levels and long-term behavioural responses.
- Hierarchical societies reduce constant conflict by stabilising rank expectations.
- Integration failure may increase intra-group competition and stress dynamics.
Urban and Human Interface
- Rhesus macaques in Indian cities show behavioural adaptation to anthropogenic food sources.
- Human provisioning alters dominance patterns and increases conflict.
- Wildlife management must account for social structure, not just population control.
Environmental and Conservation Context
- Habitat fragmentation disrupts troop cohesion and dispersal routes.
- Lion-tailed macaques face isolation due to Western Ghats deforestation.
- Climate change alters food availability, impacting social competition intensity.
Challenges
- Maternal Separation Stress: Early deprivation affects long-term social stability and integration success.
- Habitat Fragmentation: Breaks matrilineal continuity and dispersal corridors.
- Urban Conflict: Food provisioning skews natural hierarchy and increases aggression.
- Captive Reintroduction Risks: Social acceptance of isolated individuals uncertain in structured hierarchies.
- Tourism Pressure: Behavioural alteration in snow monkeys and temple macaques due to human interaction.
Way Forward
- Behaviour-Informed Wildlife Management: Integrate primate social ecology into relocation and rehabilitation policies.
- Habitat Corridor Protection: Strengthen Western Ghats connectivity for lion-tailed macaques.
- Regulate Wildlife Tourism: Limit feeding and close-contact photography.
- Urban Conflict Mitigation Plans: Secure waste management and awareness campaigns.
- Longitudinal Behavioural Monitoring: Support primate research institutions to track stress and hierarchy changes.
Prelims Notes
- Harry Harlow experiments (1950s): Maternal deprivation in rhesus macaques.
- Lion-tailed macaque endemic to Western Ghats.
- Macaques exhibit female philopatry and matrilineal dominance hierarchies.
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 governs primate protection in India.
