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Results of testing improved traditional technique to reduce farmers-monkeys conflict associated with crop-raiding in Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania
Abstract
This paper presents preliminary results on initial intervention to harmonize farmers-monkeys conflict by developing monkeys’ management technique on the farm-forest interfaces. In-situ monkeys’ control experiment was developed, whereby dogs were trained and used to guard 20 Experimental Pilot Farms (EPF). Furthermore, another 20 Experimental Control Farms (ECF) were selected and farmers were advised to continue using the traditional techniques. The EPF and ECF farms have relatively similar characteristics in terms of location from the forests, vegetation cover, farming systems and crops grown. Farmers were responsible for recording the incidence of crop raiding. Preliminary results showed that dogs reduced
monkeys crop raiding incidences from 33.3% in ECF to 12.8% in EPF. The results in ECF were relatively low compared to farmers’ perceived crop raiding incidences of 37.8% and estimated crop damage up to 41.1%. The weather conditions and crop seasons seem not to be associated with monkeys’ crop raiding behaviour in Uluguru Mountains. Therefore, the preliminary results suggest that the use of trained dogs in farms is cheap and can save up to 61.5 % of the current crop losses.al, 1998). The Mountains have outstanding various forests and landscape forms that provide numerous habitats for primates. The forests are in five patches, with 65% of their original forest cover lost due to seasonal fire, agriculture and logging, charcoal making and human settlements (Lulandala 1998).
Forest fragmentation has negative impacts on wildlife. For example, most primates like monkeys cannot cross the gap between forests, without
passing human residences or agricultural fields. Albeit, monkeys are forest specialists, which are less tolerant to disturbed forests (Burgess et al.,
1998; Newmark, 1998). Monkeys in western slopes of lower Uluguru Mountains are confined to small shrub patches with exotic tree species, and those, which are lucky to be in closed forest reserves are blocked in there. Monkeys found in Uluguru Mountains forests are Galago crassicaudatus crassicaudatus (Greater Galago), G. zanzibaricuson (Uluguru Bushbaby) ,in the IUCN red list, Cercopithecus mitis kibonotensis
(Blue Monkey) and Polycomos angolensis palliates (Black and White Colobus). Unfortunately, monkeys, especially blue monkeys are in conflict with farmers who regard them as vermin as they raid crops, an attitude that may result into their local extinction.
monkeys crop raiding incidences from 33.3% in ECF to 12.8% in EPF. The results in ECF were relatively low compared to farmers’ perceived crop raiding incidences of 37.8% and estimated crop damage up to 41.1%. The weather conditions and crop seasons seem not to be associated with monkeys’ crop raiding behaviour in Uluguru Mountains. Therefore, the preliminary results suggest that the use of trained dogs in farms is cheap and can save up to 61.5 % of the current crop losses.al, 1998). The Mountains have outstanding various forests and landscape forms that provide numerous habitats for primates. The forests are in five patches, with 65% of their original forest cover lost due to seasonal fire, agriculture and logging, charcoal making and human settlements (Lulandala 1998).
Forest fragmentation has negative impacts on wildlife. For example, most primates like monkeys cannot cross the gap between forests, without
passing human residences or agricultural fields. Albeit, monkeys are forest specialists, which are less tolerant to disturbed forests (Burgess et al.,
1998; Newmark, 1998). Monkeys in western slopes of lower Uluguru Mountains are confined to small shrub patches with exotic tree species, and those, which are lucky to be in closed forest reserves are blocked in there. Monkeys found in Uluguru Mountains forests are Galago crassicaudatus crassicaudatus (Greater Galago), G. zanzibaricuson (Uluguru Bushbaby) ,in the IUCN red list, Cercopithecus mitis kibonotensis
(Blue Monkey) and Polycomos angolensis palliates (Black and White Colobus). Unfortunately, monkeys, especially blue monkeys are in conflict with farmers who regard them as vermin as they raid crops, an attitude that may result into their local extinction.
