Tourist Behavior and Decibel Levels Correlate with Threat Frequency in Tibetan Macaques ( Macaca thibetana ) at Mt. Huangshan, China

Tourist behavior and noise levels significantly correlate with increased threat displays in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mount Huangshan's Valley of the Wild Monkeys. While tourist density did not directly impact monkey threats, collective tourist behaviors—such as hand or mouth noises, mimicking monkeys, and throwing objects or food—and elevated decibel levels on the viewing platform were linked to higher threat frequencies (Pearson’s r=0.391, p=0.014 for behavior; r=0.334, p=0.038 for noise). The study, conducted in August 2005, suggests that enforcing park rules—particularly restricting feeding and noise-making—and developing tourist education materials could mitigate harmful interactions, preventing escalations seen at other macaque tourism sites.

Ruesto, L. A., Sheeran, L. K., Matheson, M. D., Li, J.-H., & Wagner, R. S. (2010). Tourist Behavior and Decibel Levels Correlate with Threat Frequency in Tibetan Macaques ( Macaca thibetana ) at Mt. Huangshan, China. Primate Conservation, 25(1), 99–104. https://doi.org/10.1896/052.025.0115