Sexual Behavior of Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis Raffles 1821) in Semi Natural Habitat Breeding of Tinjil Island. Department of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecotourism. Faculty of Forestry. Bogor Agricultural University

Abstract

Long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis Raffles 1821) is one of primate species that has not been protected in Indonesia. The wild caught tended to exceed the wild capture quotas that have been set by the government (Rameiyanti & Purnama 2008). This wild capture can reduce the sustainability of this species, so it should be an effort to prevent extinction by conservation effort such as establishing a captive breeding. One of the most important aspect to the succees of captive breeding is animal reproduction, especially sexual behavior. By knowing the sexual behavior of the macaque, it can be known about the appropriate form of management in order to produce a suitable animal production. The objectives of this study were to determine sexual behavior of the long-tailed macaque in Semi Natural Habitat Breeding of Tinjil Island (SNHBTI) and the influences of sexual behavior to daily behavior of long-tailed macaque. This research was conducted in SNHPTI, Pandeglang, Banten from June to August 2009. The study started on 5 to 10 May 2009 to determine location during preliminary observations by establishing the line transect method. Behavioral data was recorded using behavior sampling method during their active time at 06.00-10.00 WIB and 14.00-18.00 WIB. There was 29 group of the macaques in SNHBTI but only group 3 was observe for this study. The sample unit consist of 5 males and 4 females. The result shows that long-tailed macaques in group 3 spent 20% of their active time to eat, 3,9% drinking, 39,6% moving, 21,4% resting, 3,7% grooming, 4,6% agonistic and 6,8% for sexual activity. Sexual activity is frequently done in the morning. This activity also frequently taken place on the trees. The position of the monkey in the social hierarchy positively correlated with the frequency of male sexual behavior and negatively correlated with the frequency of female sexual behavior. There are types of sexual behavior in long-tailed macaque. The highest frequency was approach-genital inspection. Sexual behavior in males have positively correlated with eating, moving, and resting behavior, and also have a significant influence on eating and moving behavior. Sexual behavior at non-pregnant females have negatively correlated and give significant influences to eating behavior. Sexual behavior at pregnant female has negatively correlated with eating behavior, positively correlated and give significant influences to resting behavior.