MACACA NEMESTRINA PROJECT

The Macaca Nemestrina Project (MNeP) studies the ecology and behavior of Southern pig-tailed macaques in their natural habitat, the rainforest and oil palm plantations. Macaques are important seed dispersers in the forest as well as biological pest control in plantations where they prey on rats. The project promotes the conservation of this Endangered primate species through community outreach and engagement with the local oil palm industry. This project under the umbrella of MPS is facilitated by Dr Nadine Ruppert (Universiti Sains Malaysia) and a collaboration with Prof. Dr. Anja Widdig, Behavioural Ecology Group at the University of Leipzig.

Southern Pig-tailed Macaques

Macaca Nemestrina Project

Research

Our research aims at better understanding the role of pig-tailed macaques in their natural habitat and surrounding oil palm plantations. Broadly, we are studying various aspects of their behaviour and ecology, such as mother-infant interactions, seed dispersal, or behavioural plasticity in different habitat types. Since we discovered that they play an important role as biological pest control in oil palm plantations by hunting plantation rats, we are intersted in understanding the impacts of pesticide use on their overall health and fitness.

Publications

Holzner, A., Rameli, N.I.A.M., Ruppert, N. and Widdig, A., 2024. Agricultural habitat use affects infant survivorship in an endangered macaque species. Current Biology.

Ruppert N, Holzner A, Hansen MF, Ang A, Jones-Engel L (2022). Macaca nemestrina. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022. e.T12555A215350982.

Read more: IUCN Red List (2022)

Holzner A, Balasubramaniam K, Weiß B, Ruppert N, Widdig A (2021). Oil palm cultivation critically affects sociality in a threatened primate in Malaysia. Scientific Reports 11(10353), DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-89783-3.

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Holzner A, Mark Rayan D, Moore J, Tan CKW, Kulik L, Clart L, Kühl H, Ruppert N, Widdig A (2021). Occupancy of wild southern pig-tailed macaques in intact and degraded forests in Peninsular Malaysia. PeerJ 9: e12462, DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12462.

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Ruppert N, Holzner A & Widdig A (2020). Of pigtails and palm oil: How rat-eating macaques increase oil palm sustainability. The Science Breaker, DOI:10.25250/thescbr.brk355.

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Holzner A, Ruppert N, Swat F, Schmidt M, Weiß B, Villa G, Mansor A, Mohd Sah SA, Engelhardt A, Kühl H, Widdig A (2019). Macaques can contribute to greener practices in oil palm plantations when used as biological pest control. Current Biology 29(20): R1066-R1067, DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.

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Ruppert N, Holzner A, See KW, Gisbrecht A, Beck A. (2018) Activity budgets and habitat use of wild Southern Pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) in oil palm plantation and forest. International Journal of Primatology 39: 237–251, DOI:10.1007/s10764-z.

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Ruppert N, Mansor A, Shahrul Anuar MS (2014). A key role of the Southern pig-tailed macaque Macaca nemestrina (Linnaeus) in seed dispersal of non-climbing rattans in Peninsular Malaysia. Asian Primates Journal 4(2): 42-51.

Read more here

Field Training

We study several groups of pig-tailed macaques in their natural habitat and in urban areas to better understand their behavioural ecology and ecophysiology. Volunteering with us means gaining comprehensive training in primatological field methods, including systematic behavioural data collection, GPS use and navigation in the forest, data curation, and various sampling according to the current state of the project.

Community Outreach Program

Our field site is situated at the Segari Melintang Forest Reserve (SMFR), Perak. Besides its unique flora of coastal Dipterocarp forest that stretches up its hills, the area hosts sensitive wildlife. Together with site-based NGOs and the community we actively engage in conservation and education activities, such as beach clean ups and tree planting.

Volunteer Experiences

If you’re an outdoor person who is passionate about wildlife, especially primates, adventurous in exploring nature and curious about research in the wild, please join us for a great experience up-close with wild primates. You don’t need prior experience but we are looking for reliable, motivated and independent team members who can live under basic conditions and who can join us for at least 3 months at a time.

MACACA NEMESTRINA PROJECT

Southern Pig-tailed Macaques

Macaca Nemestrina Project