A review of interspecific interactions between primates and domesticated animals

As human populations expand and modify landscapes, interactions between wild primates and domesticated animals have become increasingly frequent. This review synthesizes literature on primate-domestic animal interactions to assess patterns across these associations and set the context for the subsequent articles in the special issue on this topic. In our review, we sampled reports of directly observed interactions published in full-length manuscripts within the last 25 years. Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are the most frequently reported domestic species involved in agonistic encounters with primates, often acting as predators or human-directed deterrents in agricultural settings. In a sample of 100 search results for relevant key words, most interactions that were documented involved dogs (92% of 117 interactions recorded in 15 of 16 articles), most of which were free-ranging. Habitat type (agroforest, protected area, or town) showed an association dog type (free-ranging or with a known owner), where dogs with known owners in agroforest make up the largest proportion of interactions, followed by free-ranging dogs in agroforest. The nature of interactions (agonism or neutral) associated with taxonomic group, where no strepsirrhines were involved in neutral interactions with dogs, and all interactions with cattle were neutral. Despite the impact of domestic animals on wild primate populations, systematic studies on primates and domestic animals, especially beyond canines, are often limited. To better understand the nature of anthropogenically influenced interspecies interactions, we recommend that researchers distinguish between the degree of human control domesticated animals are under, document the behavioural responses of both primates and domestic animals, and include interactions with non-canine domestic species, such as livestock.