STUDY ON BEHAVIOUR OF RHESUS MONKEY (MACACA MULATTA) AND THEIR RESPONSE TO VISITORS AT CHITTAGONG ZOO

Abstract

The study was conducted on the behaviour of rhesus monkey including feeding, productive, reproductive, communicative, social and agonistic behaviour as well as maternal care, and their response to visitors in captive condition at chittagong zoo. The monkeys were kept within wire net house. Available feed supply to the monkeys were peanut, gram chuni, rice, bread, bananas, coconut and vegetables. The average weight of male & female ranges from 7.7 kg (17 lb) & 5.34 kg (11.8lb) respectively. The Social dominance of monkey was observed; where one have dominancy over the entire group. The aggressiveness of the monkeys was remarkable. The parental care of monkeys were beyond question. They made communication with others members of the group by making various sounds and by gesture, posture. They liked to live in a group and they were very much capricious about new things. The response of monkey to visitors was observed. When there were huge visitors they were excited and when less visitors they took rest or played. The age of maturity, length of estrous cycle and gestation period were 3 years, 28days and 164±5 days respectively. The feed that was supplied were not formulated according to the nutrient requirement of rhesus monkey.