Macaques and the Ritual Production of Sacredness among Balinese Transmigrants in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Long‐tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) at temple sites in Bali may be considered sacred because of the presence of monkeys in Hindu texts or through their association with sacred temple spaces. Using an ethnoprimatological approach, our research goal was to further explain how primates become sacred by exploring differences in perceptions of primate sacredness between Balinese Hindus living in Bali and those living in transmigrant communities in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Structured face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 100 individuals from three transmigrant communities regarding their relationship with local booted macaques (Macaca ochreata). We found that the majority of transmigrants did not consider booted macaques sacred. Reasons given for this lack of sacredness included the absence of macaques in and around transmigrant temple sites, as well as generally unhabituated and destructive behavior. Our research also helps explain perceptions of macaque sacredness in Bali. We demonstrate how macaque sacredness cannot be viewed through a singular lens; rather, it is multifaceted, deriving from the convergence of multiple factors and contexts. The presence of long‐tailed macaques in temple sites during rituals, their habituated (i.e., peaceful) behavior during those rituals, and a landscape of social engagement between humans and macaques in Bali contribute to their perceived sacredness.

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