Infant Survival Among Free-Living Bonnet Macaques (Macaca radiata) in South India

Abstract Female reproductive success depends to a large extent on infants’ ability survive maturity. While most studies of female have focused the effects individuals’ sociodemographic factors (e.g., age/parity, dominance rank) offspring survival among wild primates living in less disturbed habitats, little research has urban or periurban animals. Here we investigated and anthropogenic determinants infant (up 1 yr age) free-ranging bonnet macaques ( Macaca radiata ) environment Southern India. We conducted study from November 2016 May 2018, two groups at Thenmala tourist site state Kerala. Fifty infants were born across birth seasons. Of these infants, 29.2% died disappeared 2017 26.9% 2018. found that was strongly influenced by mother’s parity: experienced mothers had better chance than those first-time mothers. also male more likely die infants. However, no mothers’ rank, frequency interactions with humans time spent foraging food, survival. Our results, consistent findings other primate species, show even challenging human-impacted environments, macaque greater inexperienced ones.