From Vulnerable to Endangered: A Turning Point
Misunderstood Abundance
Many mistakenly believe that long-tailed macaques, found worldwide, are thriving in excessive numbers.
A Troubling Reclassification
Recent weeks in Singapore have seen incidents involving these macaques, sparking debates over drastic measures like culling. However, a pause is warranted—on March 7, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updated the species’ Red List status to “Endangered.” Previously classified as “Vulnerable” in 2021, the macaques’ changing status highlights their growing risk of extinction.
The IUCN Red List categorises species into seven levels of extinction risk, ranging from “Least Concern” to “Extinct,” based on rigorous assessments of their survival threats.
A Declining Population Across Regions
Native to Southeast Asia and Bangladesh, long-tailed macaque populations have dropped significantly. Over the past 40 years, their numbers have plummeted by at least 40%, with predictions of a 50% decline in the next four decades.
In Bangladesh, these macaques are already extinct. In Laos, their population has decreased by a staggering 90% since a 2011 study, leaving only 300–500 individuals in the wild.
Escalating Threats to Survival
The species faces numerous threats, with increasing human-wildlife conflicts often resulting in calls for culling. In Malaysia alone, nearly half a million macaques were culled between 2011 and 2018.
Additionally, these macaques are the most traded primates globally, heavily sought for biomedical research, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. This demand exacerbates their already dwindling numbers.
False narratives portraying the species as “over-abundant” contribute to unsustainable removal efforts. The IUCN warns that ongoing habitat destruction from development in Southeast Asia intensifies human-macaque encounters, further endangering the species.
Despite legal protections in some regions, enforcement remains insufficient, leaving the macaques vulnerable to exploitation and habitat loss.
Singapore: A Rare Exception
Interestingly, Singapore’s long-tailed macaques are not locally endangered. The nation boasts a unique, national-level programme to monitor their population, which is classified as “Least Concern” in Singapore’s Red Data Book.
To manage conflicts, the National Parks Board (NParks) employs strategies such as monkey-guarding, redirecting macaques away from residential areas and into forested habitats.
A Call to Action
The IUCN stresses the urgent need to alter perceptions of these primates, recognising their critical ecological and cultural significance. Without immediate intervention, the long-tailed macaques could face irreversible population losses, cementing their status as one of the most endangered primate species today.
