Protected Javan Langurs Still Targets of Illegal Trade

The current situation in Indonesia highlights that the legally protected Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus) continues to be a target of illegal trade. According to the Javan Langur Center (JLC), operated by The Aspinall Foundation Indonesia, the rehabilitation center receives Javan langurs every year that are either confiscated from illegal trade or voluntarily surrendered by their owners. Many of these animals arrive in concerning condition after living far from their natural habitats. Iwan Kurniawan, manager of JLC, stated that the center has handled 192 Javan langurs to date. He explained that nearly 60 percent of these endemic Javan primates rehabilitated at JLC originate from seizures by the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA), the law enforcement division of the Ministry of Forestry, or the police. The remaining individuals are pets surrendered by the public to conservation institutions. While the number of langurs entering JLC from owner surrenders has increased in the last two years, Iwan noted that most cases still stem from illegal trade. "Most of them are still from the wild," he pointed out. The common pattern involves individuals purchasing and keeping Javan langurs as pets when they are young, finding them cute and tame. However, as the primates mature, their natural wild animal behaviors begin to emerge. When their ownership becomes known to the BKSDA, owners are given the choice between facing legal proceedings or voluntarily surrendering the langur. Many owners opt for voluntary surrender, and these langurs are then entrusted to JLC for rehabilitation. Iwan emphasized that regardless of how cute a langur may be as a juvenile, it will invariably become problematic as it grows. Source: Mongabay Indonesia