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    Jilliane t201 Fa2

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    The document discusses solutions to the ongoing conflict between monkeys and humans in Singapore. It describes how the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore still culls one-third of the macaque population annually to address complaints, though numbers have decreased. Alternative options like relocation only transfer the problem, while education of residents and deterring monkey access to food and homes are emphasized as more effective long-term solutions by animal welfare groups and experts. Creating buffer zones between forest areas and developments could also help by establishing clear territory boundaries.

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    Jilliane t201 Fa2

    Uploaded by

    api-357326622
    305 views3 pages
    The document discusses solutions to the ongoing conflict between monkeys and humans in Singapore. It describes how the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore still culls one-third of the macaque population annually to address complaints, though numbers have decreased. Alternative options like relocation only transfer the problem, while education of residents and deterring monkey access to food and homes are emphasized as more effective long-term solutions by animal welfare groups and experts. Creating buffer zones between forest areas and developments could also help by establishing clear territory boundaries.

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    jilliane t201 fa2

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    The document discusses solutions to the ongoing conflict between monkeys and humans in Singapore. It describes how the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore still culls one-third of the macaque population annually to address complaints, though numbers have decreased. Alternative options like relocation only transfer the problem, while education of residents and deterring monkey access to food and homes are emphasized as more effective long-term solutions by animal welfare groups and experts. Creating buffer zones between forest areas and developments could also help by establishing clear territory boundaries.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    305 views3 pages

    Jilliane t201 Fa2

    Uploaded by

    api-357326622
    The document discusses solutions to the ongoing conflict between monkeys and humans in Singapore. It describes how the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore still culls one-third of the macaque population annually to address complaints, though numbers have decreased. Alternative options like relocation only transfer the problem, while education of residents and deterring monkey access to food and homes are emphasized as more effective long-term solutions by animal welfare groups and experts. Creating buffer zones between forest areas and developments could also help by establishing clear territory boundaries.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Monkey Mayhem: Solving the Problems Between Primates

    and Man

    The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and Animal Welfare groups discuss

    the current and alternative solutions to Singapores monkey-human conflict.

    By Jilliane Lee

    Despite a significant decrease in overall feedback, from 1,800 in 2013 to 750 in 2015, AVA

    continues culling one-third of the macaque population every year.

    This is in response to the monkey-related complaints lodged by the public. The number of

    monkeys culled is still high due to the rise in the number of feedback pertaining monkey

    nuisances and safety issues.

    The monkeys culled by AVA are those who enter and mess up estates or those who are part of

    violent human-animal encounters. Many of the monkeys, in search for food, enter residences

    near the reserve and mess up their living spaces.

    Joshua Chen, 19, a resident at MacRitchie Reservoir for 10 years, recounts an incident where

    monkeys broke into his kitchen. When I first moved here, the monkeys used to climb up my
    back gate and into my open kitchen window just to get food, said Chen, they made a mess of

    the place during their raid, scattering my cutlery everywhere.

    AVA, however, resorts to culling as one of their last options. The option of relocating the

    monkeys has been considered, but ultimately it only transfers the problem from one district to

    another. It does not solve the root of the problem, monkey nuisances. Ms Ellyas Dzulkifli, the

    manager of animal management at AVA, said in an email interview, As relocation options are

    not available in land-scarce Singapore, humane euthanasia is our last resort.

    Mr Louis Ng, founder of Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES), believes

    that culling is ineffective, as its implementation over these past few years have not done much in

    solving the monkey-human conflicts. He believes there are more humane alternatives to solve the

    monkey complaints. The way forward really now, said Mr Ng, is enforcing the non-feeding,

    setting up the buffer zones for any future developments.

    While animals activist groups and government organisations play a major role in this conflict,

    residents who live near these nature reserves play the most important part. Ms Sabrina Binte

    Abdul Jabbar, is one of the organisers of the Monkey Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir. These

    walks are held bi-monthly for the public to have a up-close encounter with the macaques to

    better understand their behaviour and mannerisms. She believes that the best solution to the

    monkey problem, would be educating the public and residents living nearby the monkey

    populated areas. Education is still the key towards changing peoples mindsets, said Ms

    Sabrina, and teaching them how they themselves can actually do their part to help monkeys.
    Residents need to be better educated, especially those who have just relocated to a home near a

    nature reserve. They need to understand and prepare themselves for the changes in their lifestyle,

    to live harmoniously with the monkeys. Mr Ng advises that residents stop making their food

    accessible to the monkeys. Ive responded to cases here, where residents realise after they keep

    all their food, they make sure the monkeys dont get anymore food from them, he said, and the

    monkeys gradually just leave. Sabrina also believes that residents can play a bigger part in

    resolving the conflict. By installing window grills, Sabrina said, it can already help to deter

    the monkeys from entering your house.

    One common misconception that Singaporeans have is that the monkeys live deep inside the

    forest and are coming out to raid the residential estates. However, in actual fact, houses have

    been built at the edge of the forest where the monkeys live. Mr Ng believes buffer zones, which

    are empty areas between the edge of the monkeys forest territories and residential estates need

    to be set up, in order to help decrease monkey-human conflict, as the monkeys will not cross

    beyond their territory into the buffer zone. They fear that little buffer zone, said Mr Ng, that

    helps keep them in and helps to ensure even the monkeys that are peripheral species, they have a

    place to stay.

    (Word Count: 650)

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