Proper behavior toward Tibetan macaques

Effects of human activity on wildlife      Most people know that human resource exploitation, pollution, and hunting (including poaching) are major factors leading to disastrous effects on wildlife. Less known are the effects of so called "beneficial" interactions, those which are supposed to do good to both humans and wildlife. However, even scientific activity improperly done can have unexpected results. Seemingly altruistic activities like provisioning animals with food can lead to side effects like begging, increased dependence on human provisioning, loss of normal foraging skills, reduction in habitat size, overpopulation and overexploitation of local resources. Food delivered in clumped and easy to monopolize piles increases the competition and aggression between individuals, leading to injuries and even deaths. Systematic contact with humans decreases natural fear of humans, making wildlife more prone to victimize or become victimized by humans. Expecting to receive food from humans, begging animals can become frustrated when their expectations are not met, and attack or steal from people. Also, contact with humans increases the transmission of contagious diseases from humans to wildlife and vice-versa. Exposing a hidden animal for taking photographs may also expose the animal to its predators, or to its prey.
     Over years of interaction with humans, wild animals may change their natural behavior. Once the environment changes (influenced by human activity), wild animals must move away to the remaining unspoiled territories. Alternatively, they may adjust (or adapt) in order to live with people. Some animals are quite successful living with humans, some are not. Some successful ones can become pests (raiding crops, destroying stored food, spreading disease, hurting people and property) and are treated as such. The rat (Rattus norvegicus) is a good example, but rhesus macaques can also cause a lot of damage in certain areas.
     For the tourist, there is not much interest or fun in observing a group of monkeys searching garbage bins. However it is a thrill to see the same monkeys jumping from tree to tree in their natural habitat. It is in our power to insure that the Tibetan macaques will continue to live in their natural environment, without much influence from human activity. The rules are simple: do not harass, do not provoke, do not toss food, and do not hand-feed the monkeys. These rules apply to any sort of wildlife.
     Every human activity has effects on wildlife. There is hope that the inherent negative effects of tourism on Yulingkeng group would be at least partially compensated by the scientific and educational activities with which the Hunagshan Monkey Valley Center is associated.

Provisioning the monkeys The staff at the Huangshan Monkey Valley are the only people entitled to provide the macaques with food. They know how to deliver the corn so that all monkeys have more or less even access to it, limiting competition and fights over food.
Throwing food, especially desirable morsels, causes frustration in those monkeys who do not get some. In turn, this leads to stress and aggression toward other monkeys or people. Frustration generated aggression can have serious consequences for the victims. Tossing food is also a way of transmitting human diseases to the monkeys. Refrain from tossing food or eating while the monkeys are close.

Aggression between monkeys and people     Monkeys often threaten or scream at people because they are already stressed by the competitive situation of feeding, and by the presence of tourists. Noise, quick gestures, or provoking the monkeys in any way increases such stress and has negative results on monkeys.
    The staff can easily manage aggression by the monkeys toward people if necessary, but consistent responsible behavior by tourists is more important in the long term. The left picture presents an open mouth threat by a male, and the right one a stare-threat by a female. Please, do not stare back at the monkeys. It only encourages them to continue.
    The best observations are achieved by quietly and non-intrusively looking at monkeys. However, if eye contact is made, the human should look in a slightly different direction. Eye-contact can sometimes generate fear or aggression in monkeys.
    Do not keep expensive equipment, food or your hands on the rail. While taking pictures, do not make noise to attract the monkeys' attention, but wait until they look towards you.
    Monkeys do not hesitate to take food from people, by sneaking if necessary. Each year at Emei Shan there are incidents between monkeys and tourists, ranging from simple scratches to loss of human life. Monkeys are powerful enough to push people over cliffs and to inflict bites. However, this is mostly caused by the tourists who do not follow the elementary rules mentioned above. Following the rules does not always insure good behavior by the monkeys towards people, but not following them is a sure way of getting into trouble.
    To insure tourist safety at Huangshan Monkey Valley the staff will always watch the monkeys so that they cannot get close to tourists.