The recurrent alterations of natural habitats promoted by humans increase their proximity to
the wild fauna, which favors, among other things, the interactions between humans and
nonhuman primates. Ethnoprimatology studies these interactions, taking into account that
they have been occuring for a long period of time. It is important to understand the
perceptions and attitudes of the residents of the Vila Nobre neighborhood in the city of Paulo
Afonso, State of Bahia, in relation to the Galician capuchin monkeys (Sapajus sp.) in order to
clarify the socio-environmental factors of this relationship. Thus, to characterize the residents'
perceptions and attitudes regarding the recent occurrence of the Galician capuchin monkey,
the present study aims at the identification of conflicts and their possible causes. The study
was conducted through semi-structured interviews as well as informal conversations with
local residents between May 2012 and July 2015. Respondents were residents of the
neighborhood since their childhood. All interviewees (N = 21) stated that these monkeys had
never occurred in the neighborhood before 2011. The great majority of the interviewees
(95.4%) associate the occurrence of the monkeys with local fruit plantations. The monkeys
invade orchards, feeding on all cultivated items, and when unsatisfied, they invade residences
in search of food. In response, some residents (14.2%) adopted aggressive measures towards
the invading monkeys. All interviewees consider the Galician capuchin monkeys important to
nature. The interactions between the human beings and the Galician capuchin monkeys are
generally peaceful as positive feelings stand out to the negative ones. Therefore, the scenario
is favorable to the adoption of environmental educational aimed at the protection of the
Galician capuchin monkeys and their habitat, as well as the protection of the residents and
their residences, providing improvements in the cohabitation relationship between humans
and primate
