Tamalanrea-Makassar. The Forest Conservation Study Program, Faculty of Forestry, Hasanuddin University (Unhas) held a public lecture discussing international collaboration in human relations with macacas in South Sulawesi. The activity took place starting at 14.00 WITA in the 1st Floor Hall of the Faculty of Forestry Unhas, Wednesday (24/7/2024).
Starting the activities of the Head of the Forest Conservation Study Program, Faculty of Forestry, Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ngakan Putu Oka, M.Sc. In his speech, he expressed his gratitude to the resource persons who had attended this activity to convey matters related to human relations with primates (macaca maura).
“This activity is quite important to know and adds new knowledge for students of the conversion study program about the behavior, interactions and relationships between macaca maura and humans. This is quite important because macaca maura is a species that is quite unique compared to other species,” explained Prof. Oka.
Furthermore, prof. Oka said that he hopes that through this activity students can maintain and increase awareness of macaca maura because this animal is an endemic species that is almost extinct.
Present as a resource person, Prof. Dr. Erin P. Riley (Lecturer and Diego State University, USE) presented material related to “Project SEED: Fostering International Collaboration in the Human-Macaque Interface in South Sulawesi”, Dr. Amanda Ellwanger (Lecturer at Georgia State University, USA) presented material with the theme “Exploring the Human-Primate Interface With Integrative Research Methodologies” and Dr. Ashni Dhawale (Postdoctoral San Diego State University, USA) presented material with the theme “Ecological and Behavioral Adaptations of Lion-Tailed Macaques to an Anthropogenic Matrix in the Western Ghats, India.
Prof. Dr. Erin P. Riley in her material said that there are 7 types of macaca in Sulawesi, namely Macaca Nigra, Macaca Hecki, Macaca Nigrescens, Macaca Maura, Macaca Ochreata, Macaca Togeaus and Macaca Tongkeana.
Macaca Maura is an endemic and almost extinct species in South Sulawesi. This species is quite interesting because it has unique behavior and is different from other types of macaca, namely that it likes to be friends with humans.
The characteristics of Macaca Maura are its short tail size (30-40 cm), socially tolerant behavior, semi-terrestrial (30-40% on the ground), fruit eater (70-80%) and its range in Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park .
Macaca maura is an endemic species that has socially tolerant behavior, behavior that likes interacting and making friends with humans.
“Humans and primates are interconnected, primates are influenced by human presence and activities. Humans and other primates live close to each other, meet and interact with each other, including at tourist sites and studying folklore and mythology,” explained Prof. Erin.
The activity continued smoothly until 16.30 WITA.
