Ethnoprimatology of the Che Wong Tribe (Senoi) in Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve, Krau, Pahang, Malaysia

Abstract Ethnoprimatology, the study of human-primate interactions, is an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between human societies and non-human primates in shared environments. The Che Wong tribe, a sub-group of Senoi Orang Asli (Indigenous People), resides in the Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve (WR), where they share their habitat with various primate species. Despite this coexistence for a long time, there is limited documentation on how these primates are utilized within the community. This study aims to fill that gap by documenting the interactions between the Che Wong tribe and local primates species, encompassing various dimensions of human-primate relationships. Data were collected through interviews and surveys with 40 respondents in two villages using the EthnoKIT TM tool. The responses were analyzed to identify patterns in primate utilization among the respondents. The results showed that the langurs ( Presbytis sp. and Trachypithecus obscurus ) were primarily used for food (82.5% and 62.5% respectively), while white-handed gibbon ( Hylobates lar ) and siamang ( Symphalangus syndactylus ) were mainly associated with beliefs (30% and 25%). Slow loris ( Nycticebus coucang ), pig-tailed macaque ( Macaca nemestrina ), and long-tailed macaque ( Macaca fascicularis ) were used in multiple ways, including as pets, but less frequently (2.5% to 12.5%). By recognizing primates’ cultural and practical importance to the Che Wong people, this research advocates for conservation strategies that balance traditional practices with efforts to protect primate populations in the Tengku Hassanal WR, such as promoting sustainable use and raising awareness about primate conservation.