BSc Paula Levold

Meat-eating and hunting behaviours are uncommon in primates, especially within catarrhine species, although instances of occasional predation have been documented in some great ape species. Of the approximately 504 known primate species, only 89 have been recorded consuming vertebrate prey.

Given this rarity, the recent observation of rat-hunting behaviour by southern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) in Malaysian palm oil plantations is s noteworthy. The dense rat population in plantations provides a readily available food source, which the macaques appear to have learned to exploit. This predation not only has ecological implications but also offers potential economic benefits, as these macaques have been suggested to function as a form of biological pest control.

Furthermore, this behaviour raises compelling questions about behavioural adaptation in primates. The ability of pig-tailed macaques to exploit anthropogenic landscapes highlights their ecological flexibility and cognitive adaptability, offering important insights into primate behavioural plasticity and human-wildlife coexistence.

In my Master’s project, I aim to conduct the first comprehensive analysis of rat-hunting behaviour in southern pig-tailed macaques, exploring its implications for foraging strategies, social dynamics, and the adaptive significance within human-altered environments.

Field Experience

Funding & Scholarships