Vet Sharmini Julita Paramasivam reports on another success story from our Primate Rescue Centre...
Yayasan IAR Indonesia (YIARI) functions to
rescue, rehabilitate and release to the wild two of the most traded primate
species in Indonesian pet markets which are slow lorises and macaques.
Rehabilitation means that we work hard to remind these animals that they are
wild, since usually most spend their lives as pets, away from their own species,
consuming human food and performing behaviour that is not normal in the wild.
Rehabilitation involves a specific diet and feeding pattern that will make them
‘work’ for their food, something that they must learn in order to survive in
the wild. For macaques, socialization with other individuals when they are
ready is the next step to form social groups that they will live with in the
wild. Once they form a solid group and are showing wild behaviours, the next
step is to release them into the wild.
On the 29 May 2012, a release operation
involving 6 pig-tailed macaques and 2 slow lorises was carried out on the
island of Lampung in Sumatra. The macaques consisted of 5 individuals in a
group led by the dominant male named Rambo for his size and soft heart and an
individual dominant male called Bendot. It was a good feeling bringing these
animals, indigenous to Sumatra, back to where they belong, seeing that they
were brought to the Javan island illegally. After a long 24 hour journey from
our centre in Ciapus, Java, all the individuals who were in good health
although restless after the long journey, were placed in a habituation cage
which is a cage made in the forest to allow acclimatization to the wild
conditions.
After 2 days of habituation, it was time for them to have their
first taste of freedom. Rambo’s group, consisting of one adult female (Nonong),
2 juvenile females (Julia and Virgo) and a young male (James), were released
back into the wild when we cut the net and set them free. It was fantastic to
see all the young ones following their leader. When James couldn’t find his way
out of the cage and cried for help, the group rushed to his aid and made sure
that no member was left behind. Next it was Bendot, who we were afraid might be
aggressive, but instead he demonstrated how much the animals appreciate our
work when he stepped out of the cage and walked away in complete peace. The
team will continue monitoring the macaques to ensure they are doing well in the
wild.
The two Sumatran lorises were placed in our
newly designed open top habituation cage that provides a proper natural environment
exposure before returning to the wild. They were quick to settle in and started
exploring the cage and environment very quickly. Both lorises are fitted with a
radiocollar that allows for monitoring after being released. This is part of
YIARI’s post-release loris monitoring programme - the first ever to be done in
Indonesia to make sure that individuals survive and to understand the way lorises
live in the wild to help improve the rehabilitation process at the centre.
After a few weeks of habituation time in the cage, they will be released and a
team will follow them every night to make sure they are well.
All in all, it was a great success with all
the released animals looking healthy and active in the wild. Importance is
placed on releasing these animals as it brings great benefits such as
increasing the long term conservation prospects of these species; it also acts
as a good awareness strategy to teach the public not to keep wild animals as
pets and promotes good animal welfare by allowing the animal to live in its
natural environment. Ironically, buying wild animals out of pity to ‘save’ them
from the horrible life in the markets is NOT a solution. This is because one
empty cage means a replacement being caught from the wild. YIARI works hard to
spread the message that wild animals belong in the wild and should not be kept
as pets, no matter what the circumstances.
After 2 days of habituation, it was time for them to have their
first taste of freedom. Rambo’s group, consisting of one adult female (Nonong),
2 juvenile females (Julia and Virgo) and a young male (James), were released
back into the wild when we cut the net and set them free. It was fantastic to
see all the young ones following their leader. When James couldn’t find his way
out of the cage and cried for help, the group rushed to his aid and made sure
that no member was left behind. Next it was Bendot, who we were afraid might be
aggressive, but instead he demonstrated how much the animals appreciate our
work when he stepped out of the cage and walked away in complete peace. The
team will continue monitoring the macaques to ensure they are doing well in the
wild.
