Klojen, MC – Every January 30th is commemorated as Indonesian Primate Day. Related to that, environmental activists and animal lovers in various regions such as Surabaya, Jakarta, Solo and Medan held an action. These activists held an action to invite the public to love and care for the rare animals that are almost extinct. In Malang City, activists from ProFauna Indonesia Malang held an action in front of a mall on Jalan Veteran, Malang City, Saturday (30/1).
In addition to carrying large banners with the words Indonesian Primate Day, the activists also carried various posters containing an appeal not to hunt, kill and trade primates. Their action was also marked by the theatrical carrying of a primate that had died after being hunted which had attracted the attention of residents passing by.
In the last five years, primate hunting has tended to increase, and this is indicated by the many photos or hunting activities uploaded on social media. Likewise with animal hunting, which used to be to meet the needs of life, but now tends to be more of a hobby to fulfill personal pleasure. Incidents like this are very sad and should not happen.
ProFauna Indonesia Malang campaigner, Swasti Prawidya Mukti told the media crew on the sidelines of the action that currently more than 70 percent of Indonesian primates are threatened with extinction due to hunting. This phenomenon is very ironic compared to the wealth of primate species in Indonesia. "Among the more than 600 species of primates in the world, at least 40 species can be found in Indonesia," he said, Thursday (30/1).
"From the list of the 25 most endangered primate species in the world, 2014-2016 period published International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is a world conservation institution, includes three types of Indonesian primates, namely the Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii), Javan Slow Loris (Nycticebus javanicus), and Simakobu (Simias concolor). Every year more and more individuals and communities are moving to voice the preservation of Indonesian primates. This community movement is a rare phenomenon in Indonesia," explained Swasti.
In the future, the veiled woman continued, her party will continue to campaign for the movement to love these primates, so that their existence does not become extinct. "We, as animal lovers, when we find residents who hunt animals, especially primates, can only provide education that what they are doing is against the law and can disrupt the natural ecosystem. We cannot immediately seize or take the animals they hunt or the weapons they use, because that is the job of law enforcement officers," concluded Swasti. (say/yon)
