University of São Paulo Study Finds Coexistence with Wild Animals in Urban Areas Harmful to Species

In certain cultures, coexistence between wild animals and humans is commonplace and has existed for centuries. The Thai city of Lopburi, for example, is known for its high concentration of monkeys on the streets, and the animal has become a symbol of the place, so much so that every year, on the last Sunday of November, residents hold the Lopburi Monkey Festival, where a veritable feast is served to the animals. However, it is common for the city to occasionally receive reports of monkey attacks on humans, as well as widespread conflicts between different groups of these animals. 

Videos showing some of these clashes between monkeys, who take to the streets of Lopburi with violent attacks and deafening screams, often go viral on social media. Patrícia Izar, a professor at the Institute of Psychology (IP) at USP and president of the Brazilian Society of Primatology, analyzes the behavior of these animals and the consequences of coexistence between humans and wild animals.

Fights

According to the professor, even if it does not lead to physical violence, conflict between primates is common and almost a norm. She says that the order of these species is known for its sociability, that is, they usually live in groups. For this reason, encounters between different groups of this species can lead to clashes, which usually occur as a result of disputes over essential resources for survival, such as food and places to sleep.

“There are much rarer conflicts, but they do happen, when a male from one group and a female from another group meet to copulate and, if the male from that female’s group witnesses it, it can lead to conflict. But in general it’s not so much about that, it’s more about these resources that are important for survival: food, territory and refuge,” he says.

According to Patrícia, in most groups of non-human primate species, hierarchical systems are common, in which individuals respect and are subordinate to those above them. Furthermore, she says that each individual, in most cases, can recognize, through individual traits and vocalization, which animals are part of their group. In this way, when widespread conflicts occur, they can distinguish which individuals belong to their group and which are rivals.

Coexistence is not coexistence

According to the expert, some human practices can be harmful and contribute to the spread of monkey groups in cities. She says that there needs to be coexistence between wild animals and humans, but this does not mean living in the same environment. According to her, the correct thing to do is for each species to live in its own habitat and respect the existence of the habitat and the conditions necessary for the life of the other species.

According to the professor, when wild species move into urban environments, the problem becomes more serious. She says that in the city of São Paulo, for example, there is a large number of marmoset species on the streets, in universities and near restaurants. Patrícia says that many people find the presence of this species pleasant, but they can leave the urban environment and invade natural areas, which would affect endemic species and the environmental balance.

The professor emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among people not to feed wild species that appear in public spaces and near homes, in order to prevent the proliferation of the animal. “We need to start working on education to promote coexistence, which is not this idea of ​​living together, but a relationship of respect for another form of life. So we need to emphasize: we cannot hold monkeys in our arms, much less feed them,” she warns.

Control

According to the professor, the solution adopted by the authorities to contain the conflict between monkeys in Lopburi was the use of slingshots with tranquilizer darts. She says that this was an extreme measure to prevent the animals’ fury from resulting in many attacks on humans, but emphasizes that this practice is unfeasible when the population of the species is very large. The ideal, according to her, is to promote programs to capture wild species for sterilization in order to reduce unbridled reproduction.

“It is always easier to sterilize males to prevent this reproduction, because it becomes a very big problem for endemic species in forest areas. We understand that people who feed wild animals do so out of love and believe they are doing good, but feeding these species is fomenting the problem. Monkeys are not domesticable beings,” he highlights.

Illnesses

According to Patrícia Izar, the practice of feeding wild species can cause diseases in both humans and the animals themselves. She says that ingesting food sources that are not habitual for these animals can cause physiological changes, as well as the transmission of zoonoses. These diseases can be transmitted from animals to people, but are more commonly transmitted from humans to animals.

The professor says that in many places where humans, domestic animals and wild animals live together, people often feed the animals without washing their hands, prepare food without using gloves and sometimes put their hands in their mouths before touching the food. Patrícia says that these actions can contribute to the spread of pathogens between people and animals, such as the common herpes virus, for example, which in humans only causes a small sore in the mouth, but is fatal for marmosets.

“Another common thing is to keep giving bananas to monkeys. In the wild, these animals don’t even eat bananas, because they are not native to Brazil, and they can cause some physiological changes, since they are very sugary. It also often happens that someone wants to give the banana to the animal, gets scared and pulls their hand away. In these cases, the animal can bite it and cause a lot of pain,” he says.