Forestry Ministry rescues protected Javan langur kept by Bondowoso resident

The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut), via the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA), has successfully evacuated a Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus) that was being kept by a resident in Sukosari Lor Village, Bondowoso Regency, East Java. The protected animal, named Momon, is now undergoing observation and rehabilitation before further conservation steps are determined.

Kemenhut’s Head of Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau, Ristianto Pribadi, stated in Jakarta on Saturday that the successful rescue of Momon demonstrates that wildlife protection cannot be carried out by the government alone and requires public support and awareness. He noted that the case also highlights the importance of the community’s role in supporting conservation efforts, as reports from residents about the presence of wildlife are the first step towards ensuring protected animals receive proper handling.

Ristianto explained that the Javan langur is an endemic Indonesian primate with protected status and an important ecological function in nature, such as aiding the dispersal of seeds from various forest plants, thereby supporting vegetation regeneration and maintaining ecosystem balance. He urged the public not to capture, keep, trade, or possess protected wildlife. “If you find protected wildlife, the public is urged to immediately report it to the nearest BBKSDA or forestry officer so it can be handled according to regulations,” Ristianto said.

The discovery was initially reported to Zumara Mufida, a veterinarian with the Bondowoso Regency Livestock and Fisheries Service, before being forwarded to the Region III Jember KSDA Division for follow-up. BBKSDA East Java then coordinated with the Sukosari Police community officer, the village non-commissioned officer, and the Sukosari Lor Village Government to take a persuasive approach with the keeper. Through education about the protection status of the Javan langur and the importance of preserving wildlife in its natural habitat, the keeper eventually agreed to voluntarily surrender Momon to the state.

According to the keeper, Momon was found approximately three to four years ago as an infant in the Selapak coffee plantation area, not far from Sempol Village, Ijen District, Bondowoso Regency. At that time, the animal was found alone without its mother. Feeling pity, the resident took the baby langur home and raised it to adulthood. The resident admitted to not knowing the proper procedures when finding protected wildlife. After evacuation, Momon underwent an initial physical examination before being placed in temporary care at the Jember Mini Zoo Conservation Institution, where the animal will undergo behavioural observation, a comprehensive health check, and rehabilitation. The results of the observation will serve as the basis for determining the next conservation steps, prioritising the principle of animal welfare.