From Hotspots to Action: Spatial Risk and Habitat Priorities for Human-Macaque Coexistence in the Hindu Raj...

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Wildlife Management

Background:

• Mountainous regions are biodiversity hotspots threatened by climate change.
• Understanding wildlife spatial ecology is crucial for conservation, especially for understudied primates.
• Rhesus macaques in Pakistan's Hindu Raj Mountains face increasing anthropogenic pressures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first integrated assessment of habitat suitability for rhesus macaques.
• To identify conflict risk hotspots between humans and rhesus macaques.
• To provide a framework for conservation and management interventions in the Hindu Raj Mountains.

Main Methods:

• Species distribution modeling (SDM) was employed to predict habitat suitability and conflict risk.
• Key environmental drivers including temperature, precipitation, and forest cover were analyzed.
• Human modification index and proximity to settlements were used to predict conflict risk.

Main Results:

• Suitable rhesus macaque habitat covers 1571 km² (29.3% of the study area), primarily in mid-elevation forest-agriculture mosaics.
• High conflict risk areas overlap with suitable habitats and dense human populations, notably in Matta, Khwazakhela, and Charbagh.
• Annual mean temperature, temperature range, precipitation, and forest cover significantly influenced habitat suitability.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a spatially explicit framework for prioritizing rhesus macaque conservation and management.
• Effective conservation requires addressing human-macaque conflict in identified hotspots.
• Promoting sustainable coexistence necessitates eco-friendly, non-lethal conflict prevention measures.