International Animal Rescue’s team in Indonesia has returned 16 long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) to the wild on Panaitan Island, Ujung Kulon, Pandeglang, Banten.
They had come to the centre either through a community translocation process, or after being handed over by the community in Bogor and Jakarta, or from the Wildlife Rescue Centre, Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BKSDA) DKI Jakarta. Their ages range from six months to nine years.
The release was coordinated from IAR’s office in Ciapus, Bogor, West Java. A team of five took charge of the 16 animals, consisting of nine males and seven females. The macaques were transported using ten specially designed crates in accordance with standard procedures for animal release.
Prior to their relocation and release, the macaques spent time together in a socialisation enclosure. By the end of their time there, they were all showing signs of positive behaviour, such as washing and grooming each other. Also, equally importantly, a hierarchy had been formed within the group.These indications proved that the macaques were ready to be returned to the wild. Equally importantly, they were all in excellent health.
“The group has bonded really well so that they are now ready and equipped to live outside the cage in the wild,” said Aris Hidayat, IAR Animal Care Coordinator.
Aris further explained that the unity of macaques in the wild will help them to avoid being eaten by another group of macaques living in the area. This grouping is intended to make social strata form during the period in the socialisation enclosure, to prevent serious conflict between young and old macaques. Instead, the strengths of the individual macaques in each group are mutually reinforcing.
“In the world of wildlife, natural law is still valid and the most powerful is still the most dominant,” Aris added.
This was the third time International Animal Rescue had carried out a release on the island in an area of 17,500 hectares. The other releases took place in April 2008 and July 2009.