Rosyid Ridlo Al Hakim, Rizaldi Rizaldi, Erie Kolya Nasution, Siti Rukayah

Short communication: First report of Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) at Logending Beach, Indonesia

Introduction

Short communication: first report of long-tailed macaque (macaca fascicularis) at logending beach, indonesia. Discover the first report of Long-tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis) at Logending Beach, Indonesia. This study details their presence, human interaction, and need for further habitat research.

Abstract

This short communication study reports the first report of the latest condition of long-tailed macaques in Logending Beach (Pantai Logending), Indonesia. Observations were carried out in August 2021. The observation location is close to several community stalls selling around the beach and the leading portal to enter the Logending Beach area. The long-tailed macaque found by observers is still within a distance (<1 km) from the primary forest bordering the Logending Beach. Several long-tailed macaque individuals encountered during the findings and field observations may be separated from the leading group. The body condition of some long-tailed macaques found during the observation seems to be quite good, but the findings have been that there has been human-primate interaction in the form of provisioning food. These observations and findings are still not sufficient to prove the original habitat of long-tailed macaques, so to prove the size of the long-tailed macaque group in Logending Beach and its surroundings, further research is needed as well as to confirm the food diet and anthropogenic influences that occur between long-tailed macaques and residents around at Logending Beach.

Review

The submitted short communication presents an initial report on the presence of Long-tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis) at Logending Beach, Indonesia. The study, based on observations conducted in August 2021, highlights the macaques' proximity to both human settlements (stalls, beach entrance) and a primary forest within 1 km. Observers noted several individuals with good body condition, but critically, also documented human-primate interactions involving food provisioning. As a preliminary "first report," this communication serves to document the current situation of macaques in this specific coastal area. A key strength of this submission lies in its timely identification of macaque presence in what appears to be a novel or at least under-documented location, thereby flagging a potential new area for human-wildlife interaction studies. The abstract candidly acknowledges the limitations inherent to a short communication, specifically that the observations are insufficient to confirm the macaques' original habitat or accurately determine group size. Furthermore, the limited scope did not allow for a detailed analysis of their diet or the full extent of anthropogenic influences beyond the reported food provisioning. These acknowledgments are appropriate for a preliminary report, setting realistic expectations for the findings presented. Despite its preliminary nature, this report lays crucial groundwork for future, more comprehensive ecological studies. The authors rightly recommend further research to ascertain group demographics, delineate home ranges, analyze dietary patterns, and thoroughly investigate the dynamics of human-primate interaction and provisioning behavior at Logending Beach. Such follow-up studies are essential to understand the long-term implications for both macaque conservation and the management of human-wildlife co-existence in this increasingly urbanized coastal environment. This short communication effectively serves as an important initial alert, prompting the need for deeper scientific inquiry into this newly observed population.

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