GROWTH AND REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF FREE-RANGING CYNOMOLGUS MONKEY (MACACA FASCICULARIS) IN 9 SELECTED REGIONS OF THAILAND

PUTTIPONGSE VARAVUDHI, CHARAL EKAVIPASTI, USANEE YODYINGYUAD, TEERAWAN NOOTPRAPAND, VITHAYA YODYINGYUAD, YUPAPORN CHAISEHA, WANNAPA SETHEETHAM AND KESORN SUWANPRASERT

ABSTRACT: The first intensive field study of Thai cynomolgus monkeys were carried out in collaboration with Japanese scientists from Kyoto and Nagoya Universities during August - September, 1988. A total of 279 monkeys were temporary trapped from 9 selected sites. Preliminary informations indicated that complete weaning under natural conditions can not beachieved earlier than 10 months old and growth rate during the first 10 months is extermely slow, particularly in monkeys obtained from Nakorn-Sawan and Khao Ngu, Rachaburi. Pubertal ages are 3 years in females and 4 years in males. Males from 8 years old and over are capable of being the leader of the group (-male). The earliest lactating age was 4 years. None of the lactating mothers were able to ovulate and carry another pregnancy during the entire period of lactation.
There is no breeding season for this type of monkey, but the most successful period of fertile mating was found to be during late summer and early rainfall (from late April until June). Other seasons of the year supported a lesser degree of successful pregnancy due to lesser availability of adult cycling females. Approximately 80% of trapped lactating mothers were 6-7 years old.

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Primate Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Received 24 May 1989