Humans chase primates using random loud noise

Overall effectiveness category Likely to be beneficial
Number of studies: 2
Share Tweet Email

View assessment score

How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

50%
Certainty

40%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Farmers chase primate crop-raiding species out of fields by shouting and banging objects to make loud noises. Farmers may use a range of noise-makers, such as beating drums and tins, bells, fire crackers, and ‘cracking’ whips in addition to yelling and whistling.

Study locations

Key messages

One controlled, replicated, before-and-after study in Indonesia found that in areas where noise deterrents were used, along with tree nets, crop raiding by orangutans was reduced.
One study in the Democratic Republic Congo found that chasing gorillas and using random noise resulted in the return of gorillas from plantations to areas close to protected forest.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A controlled, replicated, before-and-after trial in 2007-2009 in an agro-forest system in Batang Serangan region, north Sumatra, Indonesia found that in areas where farmers used noise deterrents and tree nets, crop-raiding by orangutans Pongo abelii was reduced, compared to areas where no mitigation was used. Orangutan feeding time on crops was lower on farms that used noise deterrents and tree nets (69 min, n=25) than on farms that did not (81 min, n=25). In addition, interviews with 50 farmers (of which 50% participated in the trials) showed that attitudes towards orangutan management had changed after the study. The proportion of farmers who wanted orangutans removed from their farms decreased from 58% before the study to 28% after the study. Forty per cent of farmers continued to use noise deterrents as a mitigation technique five months after the study. Hand-held firecracker cannons made out of bamboo and tin filled with calcium carbide to produce noise, and hand-held bamboo drums were used on 25 farms.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Campbell-Smith G., Sembiring R. & Linkie M. (2012) Evaluating the effectiveness of human–orangutan conflict mitigation strategies in Sumatra. Journal of Applied Ecology, 49, 367-375.
A study in 1996 in subtropical montane forest and plantation mosaic in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo found that one habituated group of mountain gorillas Gorilla beringei beringei that were raiding corn and banana plantations 3 km from the edge of the park were chased back into the forest using random noise. The authors provided no details on the size of the gorilla group. Rangers produced noise by banging on pots and pans to move the entire gorilla group back into the forest. Guards were dressed in civilian clothing and surrounded the group. Chasing was stopped as the gorillas where within 500 m of the park to avoid association of disturbance with the forest. The International Gorilla Conservation Programme purchased large bells for future interventions.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Lanjouw A. (1995) Gorilla conservation problems and activities in north Kivu, eastern Zaire. African Primates, 1, 44-46.

Please cite as:

Junker, J., Kühl, H.S., Orth, L., Smith, R.K., Petrovan, S.O. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Primate Conservation. Pages 431-482 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Primate Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Humans chase primates using random loud noise Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	2	Synopsis Link
Create natural habitat islands within agricultural land Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Prohibit (livestock) farmers from entering protected areas Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	2	Synopsis Link