Differences in home ranges of rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) groups living in three ecological habitats

Abstract

Field observations were carried out on rhesus monkeys living in Asarori forest, Chakia forest, and temples. Data on group size, group composition and socionomic sex-ratios were obtained. An average home range size in these three habitats was fouad to be 5.18 km² 1.152 km² and 0.017 km² respectively. A positive correlation was found between group size and home range size in the Asarori Forest. Core areas were absent inside the home ranges in Chakia Forest. The average core area in other 2 habitats was 0.48 km² and 0.009 km² in Asarori forest and temples respectively. The variability in home ranges and core areas is analysed in terms of differences in ecological conditions.