A joint team from the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) and YIARI, our Indonesian partners, successfully released six Javan slow lorises (Nycticebus javanicus) in the Mount Papandayan Nature Reserve and Nature Tourism Park in West Java. The six slow lorises included three males named Apem, Nasrul, and Tero, and three females named Cibun, Sambal, and Jahe. These protected animals were handed over to the West Java BBKSDA by communities from various regions. After undergoing rehabilitation at YIARI’s centre in Ciapus, West Java, they were declared ready to return to their natural habitat.
The release location was chosen based on the natural habitat distribution of the Javan slow loris. One potential habitat is in the Kawah Forest Block of the Mount Papandayan Nature Tourism Park. This area is administratively located in Karya Mekar Village, Pasir Wangi District, Garut Regency, and is within the working area of Star Energy Geothermal Darajat.
The release location was also chosen considering the availability of food, the safety of the lorises from hunting or disturbances, and the presence of existing slow loris populations to avoid potential territorial conflicts. The location must also be relatively far from human settlements to minimize new conflicts with humans.
This release event is heartening news because one of the slow lorises was a victim of the illegal wildlife trade. A slow loris named Apem arrived at the rehabilitation centre with a severe tooth infection. Dr Indri Saptorini, a YIARI veterinarian, explained that teeth are essential for slow lorises not only for feeding but also for self-defense. The severe tooth infection initially worried the YIARI animal management team that Apem might not be able to be released back into the wild.
However, further examination showed that the infection affected only a few teeth, leaving hope that the remaining teeth could function well. This hope was realised as the animal management team observed that Apem’s foraging and eating behaviours were excellent, similar to wild slow lorises. Based on the evaluation results, Apem was then declared fit to return to his natural habitat.
Another miraculous story comes from Nasrul, a male slow loris handed over to the BBKSDA Bandung. Upon arrival at the rehabilitation center, he had an eye injury that developed into an infection, necessitating the removal of his eye. Despite living with only one eye, Nasrul was still deemed capable of surviving in the wild.
The journey of these six slow lorises began from the rehab cage to the transport cage, ensuring safe and comfortable travel. Before the journey, the animal management team ensured they were well-nourished. The release team used four transport cages, each containing one or two slow lorises.
The release point in Pasirwangi District, Garut, is about 278 kilometres from the YIARI Rehabilitation Centre in Bogor. The journey took about eight hours by car, followed by a 15-minute walk.
Upon arrival, they were moved to a habituation cage built earlier, before being released into the wild. The habituation cage, an 18-square-metre area fenced with nets and bamboo, serves as an adaptation facility for the slow lorises in their new location. They will undergo habituation for about a week, during which they will still be provided with food to meet their nutritional needs before being released outside the habituation cage. During this period, the YIARI Survey Release and Monitoring team will observe their behaviour and health. If they adapt well, they will be released into the wild.
The Indonesian government has classified the Javan slow loris as a protected species under Law No. 5 of 1990 and Government Regulation No. 7 of 1999. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) also lists this primate as endangered. The Javan slow loris is also included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), prohibiting its trade.
Many conservation efforts have been made for the slow loris, including releases and increasing public awareness, showing that the slow loris population in the wild is improving. The number of slow lorises cared for at the YIARI rehabilitation centre has also dropped to the smallest number in the past five to ten years. To maintain this, continuous monitoring of the slow loris trade is necessary to ensure the success of conservation efforts.
Acting Head of the West Java BBKSDA, Mr. Irawan Asaad, Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for the efforts to save wildlife. “We appreciate YIARI, which has long worked with the West Java BBKSDA in efforts to save protected wildlife, especially the Javan slow loris. To date, the West Java BBKSDA has recorded the highest number of Javan slow loris rescues and releases compared to other wildlife. This indicates that the illegal trade of slow lorises among the public is still significant. It is important to note that the Javan slow loris is a wild animal that should live in its natural habitat and not be kept as a pet or sold illegally.”
YIARI’s Director, Karmele Llano Sanchez, also expressed appreciation for the multi-party cooperation in wildlife conservation. “We appreciate the support of the public and the government, in this case, the West Java BBKSDA, for this release activity. Multi-party awareness and efforts are needed to achieve the common goal of creating a harmonious ecosystem between wildlife and humans. Therefore, maintain and enhance collaboration and synergy to protect wildlife and their habitats.”