Updates On 6th Jul 2015

MONKEY SLEEP, MONKEY DO: HOW MACAQUES CHOOSE THEIR TREES

Macaques have many sleeping sites. Two extensive studies of Indonesian primates suggest that factors regarding which tree to select each evening are site-specific and different for each species�and that some overnight spots result in conflicts between monkeys and humans.

“We have to understand what monkeys need in order to sleep to know what we have to protect,” said primate scientist Fany Brotcorne of the University of Li�ge in Belgium, leader of one of the research teams.

When macaques choose their evening perch, they seem to weigh up more factors than comfort alone. The main factors scientists suspect are safety from predators, distance to feeding grounds, human interactions, insect avoidance, and competition with other primates.

Macaques may spend up to 12 hours at their sleeping sites, and yet we really don’t know much about them. Long-tailed macaques have been spotted snoozing away in trees near human-modified areas. Scientists suspect food availability was the main factor driving the macaques’ bunk choice. The timing of their move also coincided with the start of the dry season and a decline in natural fruit production.

So, now you know that macaques don�t monkey around when deciding where to spend the night!

#ACRES #SaveSgMonkeys

Source: https://www.facebook.com/ACRESasia/photos/a.223077136522.136..

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ACRES

ACRES (Animal Concerns Research & Education Society) is a pioneering Singapore-based charity and Institution of Public Character, founded by Singaporeans in 2001 with the aim of promoting animal welfare.

ACRES has six focus areas: Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Wildlife Crime Investigation, Zoo Animal Welfare, Humane Education, Community Outreach and Promoting Cruelty-Free Living.

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