On 28 December 2021, at the initiation of the West Java BBKSDA and the Mount Ciremai National Park Office, IAR Indonesia was invited to conduct a capacity building workshop at the National Park office on rescued and rehabilitated Javan slow lorises, ranging from morphological characteristics to health conditions. IAR Indonesia is engaged in the conservation of Indonesian primates based on rescue, rehabilitation, release and post-release monitoring efforts. Teguh Setiawan, Head of the Mount Ciremai National Park Office, officially opened the proceedings. “The workshop was very useful for us, particularly in handling animals that have been handed over by the community,” he said.
Based on a report from the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Centre (BBKSDA West Java), on 3 and 6 December 2021, two slow lorises had been handed over by the people of Sindangagung Village and Karoya Village, Kuningan Regency, in a healthy, active and healthy condition. They were found to have no injuries or injuries. The lorises were then handed over to IAR Indonesia for rehabilitation.
Slamet, the Head of West Java BBKSDA Cirebon Resort said that nowadays people are increasingly concerned about the existence of wild animals, particularly those that are legally protected. “A large number of animals have been handed over to the West Java BBKSDA, including the Javan slow loris,” he said.
On the recommendation of Indri S, a veterinarian of IAR Indonesia, the two slow lorises met the requirements to be released into the wild. “Indicators to be considered when releasing Javan slow lorises are body weight and dental condition. Minimum weight is BCS 3 (Body Condition Score) and the loris must still have its teeth,” he added.
The Mount Ciremai National Park (TN) area is a conservation area located at the eastern end of West Java Province. It is a natural habitat for endemic flora and fauna of West Java, one of which is the Javan Slow Loris (Nycticebus javanicus) and is therefore an ideal release site.
The release was carried out on 29 December 2021 in the National Park Management Section (SPTN) Region I Kuningan and attended by representatives of West Java BBKSDA and the Head of the Preservation Resort SPTN Region I Kuningan as well as PEH functionalities, Forestry Police and Extension Officers.
It is hoped that these two individual slow lorises will adapt and live well back in their natural habitat, as all wildlife should.