“Man’s best friend has deep roots in agriculture – as a guardian, herder, retriever and companion.”
– Farm Progress, publisher of 22 farming and ranching magazines in USA.
WILD monkeys have been destroying fruit gardens in Bukit Saban constituency located in the district of Spaoh, Betong Division.
The monkeys are the main reason why many folks there are reluctant to plant crops like corn and fruits in their gardens.
Now, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has suggested that dogs be trained to guard the farms and chase away the marauding primates.
Speaking at a Gawai Ngiling Bidai luncheon at Rumah Mendit Unsu in Penom in Spaoh recently, Uggah said, “We have tried various options before but to no avail. Let us think of how we can train dogs to guard our farms and chase these monkeys away.
“We need an effective solution, especially with plans underway for a 1,000-acre agropark here.”
The Bebuling Agropark is expected to house one of the largest greenhouse facilities in the state.
To lead its development, the state government has appointed three anchor companies, and Uggah is optimistic that tangible progress would be seen within this year
Although Uggah did not specifically mention the fruits that the monkeys were eating or destroying, Bukit Saban is known for growing fruits like bananas and durians.
The area is also focused on developing fruit and vegetable farming as part of a broader effort to enhance food production in the state,
The Deputy Premier’s suggestion about training dogs to guard the farms and chase away the monkeys is good. It could be a practical, cost-effective and potentially successful solution to the monkey menace.
Since many longhouse and rural residents already keep dogs as companions and to protect their homes, the suggestion could be implemented with minimal additional cost or effort.
Besides, Uggah had also cited the need to find alternatives to previous unsuccessful methods of monkey control.
Indeed, in many parts of the world like Australia, the United Kingdom and USA, dogs have already been used successfully to protect livestock from predators and secure the home turf from outsiders.
But these farm dogs, especially livestock guardians, are no ordinary canines. They are either of Livestock Guardian Dog breeds or have been trained to recognise and deter the predators.
In Bukit Saban, farmers can utilise the Livestock Guardian Dog breeds or train existing dogs to recognise and deter monkeys.
But Livestock Guardian Dog breeds are not cheap; they include Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds or Maremma Sheepdogs, which are naturally inclined to guard and protect but have to be imported from overseas or bred from imported stocks. They are expensive not only to import but also rear as they may eat only special food.
Importing certain dog breeds into Malaysia can also be complex; there are restrictions and requirements to be adhered to, particularly for breeds considered dangerous and those that are banned.
A cheaper alternative is, of course, to train local dogs to recognise and deter monkeys.
The training of farm dogs will involve bonding the dogs with the farms and livestock, introducing them to the monkeys’ presence and using positive reinforcement to teach them to bark, chase or discourage the primates from entering the farms.
Regardless of breed, proper training is crucial for a dog to be an effective livestock guardian. This includes socialisation with livestock and learning to deter predators.
Ideally, early bonding of puppies with the farms and livestock is encouraged. Letting the puppies and livestock grow up together helps to create a strong bond.
The dogs must also be comfortable with the farm layouts, boundaries and potential monkey-related stimuli (for example, the trees they might climb).
When the dogs bark at monkeys or stay near livestock, they are rewarded with treats and praised. The dogs are also taught to alert the farm owners to the presence of monkeys with barks or another vocalisation.
As part of their training, the dogs are discouraged from excessive or aggressive chasing of monkeys, especially away from the farms.
If the farms have fences, the dogs must be trained to recognise and respect the boundaries.
Since some dogs may not be suitable to work as farm dogs, it is important to assess a dog’s temperament and suitability for the job.
Owners should ensure their farm dogs are healthy and well cared for by conducting regular check-ups on the animals.
Farm owners should reinforce desired behaviours among the dogs they train and address any emerging issues. They should also regularly monitor their dogs’ interactions with the monkeys and farm environment.
Owners, who do not know how to train their farm dogs, can always seek the help of professional dog trainers. I’m sure the latter will be pleased to help them – for a fee, of course.
Perhaps the state government can help in the training of suitable farm dogs through the Agriculture or Veterinary Departments.
Besides using dogs, the fruit growers can also use other methods to deter monkeys from raiding their crops. These include noise-making devices like whistles and loudspeakers which can scare monkeys as well as physical barriers like netting or fencing which can physically prevent monkeys from reaching the fruits.
They can also use fake predators like owls, snakes or even scarecrows to frighten the monkeys or grow strong-smelling plants like neem trees or chilli plants to deter the primates.
Now that Uggah has spoken, do we get to see pet dogs protecting fruit and vegetable farms from wild monkeys not only in Bukit Saban but also other areas of Sarawak in the near future?
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at adelinel888@gmail.com.
