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Thailand Habitat Models Linked Rhesus Macaques to Human-Modified Landscapes

Rhesus macaque in Satchari National Park, Bangladesh
Research · Ecology

A modelling study of six macaque species in Thailand found that rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were primarily associated with human-modified landscapes rather than the higher-quality natural forest habitats identified for some other macaques. The study combined occurrence records from field surveys conducted between 2005 and 2025 with literature and citizen-science data.

The researchers modelled habitat suitability for long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), rhesus macaques, stump-tailed macaques (Macaca arctoides), Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis), northern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina) and Sunda pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina). The researchers used Maxent species-distribution models, which estimate where conditions are suitable from known occurrence records and environmental variables. They then combined these predictions with the macaque habitat, anthropogenic dependence and coexistence (MAC) framework, which adds information about how strongly species are associated with natural versus human-modified environments.

Rhesus macaque habitat was linked most strongly to temperature seasonality

Temperature seasonality was the strongest predictor in the rhesus macaque and stump-tailed macaque models. The habitat-quality assessment associated Sunda pig-tailed and stump-tailed macaques with high-quality natural forest, whereas long-tailed and rhesus macaques were more closely associated with human-modified landscapes. Artificial light at night had a particularly strong influence on the long-tailed macaque model.

Suitable habitat extent differed markedly among species

Predicted suitable habitat was extensive for northern pig-tailed, stump-tailed and long-tailed macaques, while it was more restricted for Assamese, rhesus and Sunda pig-tailed macaques. The authors use these differences to identify species-specific priorities for monitoring and habitat management across Thailand.

Sources and image credit

  1. Changruenngam, T., & Kaewpanus, K. (2026). Integrating climatic and anthropogenic species distribution models with the macaque habitat, anthropogenic dependence, and coexistence (MAC) framework to assess habitat suitability and quality of macaque species in Thailand. American Journal of Primatology, 88(3), e70133. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.70133Primary research article first published 20 March 2026. The study modelled habitat suitability for six macaque species in Thailand using field, literature and citizen-science occurrence data. Temperature seasonality was the strongest predictor for rhesus macaques; the habitat-quality framework associated rhesus and long-tailed macaques mainly with human-modified landscapes, while predicted suitable habitat was comparatively restricted for rhesus, Assamese and Sunda pig-tailed macaques.

Image: Md. Tareq Aziz Touhid — rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) in Satchari National Park, Bangladesh, 27 February 2017; Wikimedia Commons; cropped to 16:9 for Wildlife Vagabond; representative species image, not from the Thailand modelling study · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

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