Local Behavior Change Following the Relocation of Macaques from Urban Conflict Areas: A Case Study of Lopburi Old Town
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Abstract
Macaques are both a cultural symbol and a tourist attraction of Lopburi. However, the exponential growth of the macaque population has worsened residents’ quality of life, through property damage, theft, and physical injuries. Residents were forced to adopt various defensive mechanisms, using deterrent devices, avoiding macaque-inhabited routes, minimizing time spent outdoors, and, in extreme cases, relocating away from the area. In 2024, the macaques were relocated from Lopburi Old Town to mitigate these conflicts. This study examines the residents’ behavior change in the area to explore and compare before and after the partial macaque relocation and to provide information for appropriate improvement guidelines, under the premise that the lifestyles of residents in the area have changed significantly following the relocation of macaques.
The findings largely support the hypothesis that residents' behavior changed significantly, evidenced by increased time spent outdoors and decreased avoidance of macaque-inhabited routes, confirmed by the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test (N = 100), with p < .001 for both variables at the 95% confidence level. These results indicate an enhanced sense of freedom and perceived safety in public spaces. Furthermore, 95% of participants perceived that relocating the macaques is highly effective in mitigating the human-wildlife coexistence conflict in the urban environment.
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