“Monkey see, monkey do" - a well-known West Indian/African saying - aptly describes the mimicking behaviour of Barbados' green monkey population renowned for their mischievous and destructive conduct.
These primates, known for their intelligence and adaptability, have long posed a challenge for local farmers as they raid crops, leading to economic losses. In response, many farmers resort to harmful or lethal methods to curb the destruction.
However, a team of researchers at The UWI, Cave Hill Campus, has begun to explore an alternative approach to mitigate this human-wildlife conflict without causing harm to the primates.
The Monkey Deterrent Project, led by Professor Julia Horrocks of the Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, seeks to explore non-lethal restraining strategies that balance agricultural sustainability with wildlife conservation. The research investigates acoustic, olfactory, and taste-aversion constraints that could provide effective, humane solutions to the ongoing conflict between farmers and monkeys in Barbados and the wider Caribbean.
The project is a collaborative effort between The UWI, Cave Hill, and Centre College in Kentucky, USA. Among the key contributors is Dr. Kerry Dore, a biological anthropologist with expertise in human-monkey interactions, particularly in St. Kitts. Ecologist and UWI graduate Justin Springer also played a crucial role in the research by testing solar-powered ultrasonic deterrents at a site in the parish of St. Thomas.
“These devices emit a range of sounds that exceed the average human hearing limit but which may be disturbing to monkeys. Whether monkeys are repelled for short periods only or whether they habituate to the sound, which frequencies are most effective and least disturbing to other wildlife, and whether the deterrents are effective to deter crop raiding will all be put to the test,” explained Professor Horrocks.
Another innovative aspect of the project involves visual deterrents. Dr. Melissa Burns-Cusato from Centre College, along with her undergraduate students, has been testing whether images of African predators, particularly life-sized leopard faces, trigger fear responses in Barbados’ green monkeys. These primates, whose ancestors originated from West Africa, have retained three distinct alarm calls associated with predators from their native habitat.
“With the help of her undergraduate students during their annual primatology field course in Barbados, [Burns-Cusato] has been presenting life-sized leopard faces to see how monkeys react. She has shown that monkeys retain an instinctive fear of leopards’ spots, especially when presented on a face with large, forward-facing eyes. Some of these images have [also] been field-tested by UWI students,” Horrocks added.She further noted: “Preliminary field tests have shown that although the effect works initially, monkeys quickly learn that there is not a real animal behind the image.”
Green monkeys were introduced to Barbados during the colonial era, and much of their natural habitat has since been cleared for agriculture and housing. In 1975, the Barbados Ministry of Agriculture offered a $5 bounty for each monkey tail brought to the Ministry. As of February 2024, the bounty has increase to $25 per tail, leading to the continued culling of these primates.
The Monkey Deterrent Project offers a promising alternative—one that aligns with ecological preservation while supporting farmers’ livelihoods. As research continues, this study could pave the way for sustainable and ethical wildlife management strategies across the region.