Conflict between farmers and Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) in Northern Algeria: threats and conservation implications

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflict is a major challenge in conservation biology with ecological and socioeconomic consequences. The problem is particularly delicate when the animals involved are threatened with extinction and experiencing rapid habitat loss due to climate change and anthropogenic actions. Here, we examined crop-foraging on farms in Central North Algeria by the Endangered Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) to understand the conflict severity. We surveyed 94 farmers to assess the seasonal pattern, occurrence, altitudinal pattern, and consequences of crop-foraging by the Barbary macaques. We found that the Barbary macaque was widely perceived by farmers as a “nuisance”, and one third of farms were abandoned due to severe crop loss. More than 50% of farms had their crops damaged between June and September. The probability of frequent crop-foraging was driven primarily by farm-scale characteristics and landscape context: Larger cultivated area were associated with greater crop-foraging frequency, while altitude and proximity to settlements showed weaker positive associations. Our results highlight the need for sustainable solutions to enhance the coexistence between humans and Barbary macaques in the region.