Keep monkey business out of conservation
WHILE having a personal encounter with a wild animal tops many tourists’ bucket lists, these interactions could have devastating effects on the animals, especially on primates, as they are vulnerable to human infections.
Indiana University department of anthropology associate professor and director of the Evolutionary Physiology and Ecology Lab, Dr Michael Muehlenbein, recently visited the Garden Route as part of a global study aimed at gauging the impact of eco-tourism on primates and creating guidelines to ensure the well-being of these animals.
His focus is on understanding the risks of pathogen transmission from the thousands of tourists visiting sanctuaries and other primate centres around the world.
He has conducted surveys on sustainable primate tourism in Malaysia and Japan and hopes to continue work in South Africa as well as conduct surveys in Bali, Gibraltar and Belize.
Muehlenbein praised the region’s primate sanctuary Monkeyland for its strict protocols on primate interaction and promoting responsible ecotourism.
“Nature-based tourism accounts for a growing proportion of international tourism activity. Revenue generated by such activities can enhance economic opportunities for local residents, support environmental education, and protect the natural and cultural heritage of the area, including the conservation of biodiversity.
“But because of their genetic relatedness with humans, other primates are particularly susceptible to human infections,” Muehlenbein said.
The major infections that can threaten primate populations are usually respiratory viruses and bacteria. “But these animals can also be very sensitive to our herpes viruses, like the ones that cause cold sores, and chickenpox. “Many primates have died from metapneumovirus and polio transmitted from humans.”
He believes disease monitoring systems and guidelines should be established to ensure the well-being of wildlife.
Muehlenbein said it was critical to understand tourist motivations and behaviours to recognise how future tourist education could minimise risks to primates.
“We are generally a species with intensive affinity for close interaction with monkeys and apes. The internet is full of pictures of people holding or feeding primates.
“Many professional primatologists are guilty of this as well, with their own websites or books full of pictures of them holding hands with chimpanzees, or allowing a monkey to crawl on them.
Monkeyland marketing manager Lara Mostert said they did not allow any touching of the animals. “Petting has absolute no conservation value. People often don’t think about what is best for the animals and petting is definitely not,” Mostert said.