Bondowoso Resident Voluntarily Surrenders Javan Langur to Forestry Ministry
A Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus) named Momon, which had been kept by a resident in Bondowoso Regency, East Java, has been voluntarily surrendered to the Ministry of Forestry. The handover serves as an example of a persuasive approach in encouraging community involvement to protect endangered wildlife.
The rescue of Momon was carried out by the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) after receiving a report from the Bondowoso Regency Livestock and Fisheries Service. The animal was subsequently evacuated to undergo health checks and rehabilitation.
Head of the Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry, Ristianto Pribadi, stated that the successful rescue of Momon demonstrates that wildlife protection requires an active role from the community. “The successful evacuation of Momon also shows the importance of cross-party collaboration in wildlife protection,” Ristianto said in a statement on Saturday (25/7/2026).
The rescue began when a veterinary paramedic from the Bondowoso Regency Livestock and Fisheries Service discovered a langur in a tied-up condition while conducting a livestock census in Sukosari Lor Village, Sukosari District. The finding was then reported to the local service’s veterinarian before being forwarded to the East Java BBKSDA.
East Java BBKSDA officers subsequently coordinated with the local community police officer (Bhabinkamtibmas), military non-commissioned officer (Babinsa), and the Sukosari Lor Village Government to approach the keeper. After receiving an explanation regarding the protected status of the Javan langur, the resident agreed to surrender Momon voluntarily.
According to the keeper, Momon was found approximately three to four years ago as an infant in the Selapak coffee plantation area, near Sempol Village, Ijen District, Bondowoso Regency. Out of pity, the resident took the animal home and cared for it until adulthood, unaware of the procedures required when encountering protected wildlife.
Following evacuation, Momon underwent an initial physical examination before being entrusted to the Jember Mini Zoo Conservation Institution. There, the animal will undergo behavioural observation, comprehensive health checks, and rehabilitation. The results of the observation will form the basis for determining the next conservation steps, prioritising animal welfare principles.
Ristianto explained that the Javan langur is a primate endemic to Java Island with protected status and plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance. The animal aids in the dispersal of seeds for various forest plant species, thereby supporting vegetation regeneration in its natural habitat.
Consequently, the Ministry of Forestry urges the public not to capture, keep, trade, or possess protected wildlife. “If members of the public encounter protected wildlife, they are urged to immediately report it to the nearest Natural Resources Conservation Agency or forestry officer so that it can be handled according to regulations,” Ristianto said.