Tourism and Infant-Directed Aggression in Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China

Research at Mount Huangshan, China, reveals that increased tourist numbers slightly reduce aggression toward Tibetan macaque infants, though infant-directed aggression (IDA) remains more prevalent in provisioning zones where tourists surround monkeys. Alpha and beta males exhibited higher levels of IDA, including biting, chasing, grabbing, and pushing, while adult females primarily targeted their own infants during punishment or weaning. Juveniles showed minimal IDA, mostly through open-mouth threats. The study suggests closing off sections of the tourist viewing platform to limit male-to-infant aggression and strictly enforcing feeding prohibitions to reduce altercations among high-ranking males.

Self, S., Sheeran, L. K., Matheson, M. D., Li, J.-H., Pelton, O. D., Harding, S., & Wagner, R. S. (2013). Tourism and Infant-Directed Aggression in Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China. Anthrozoös, 26(3), 435–444. https://doi.org/10.2752/175303713x13697429463790