Hundreds of apes face starvation

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Hundreds of bekantan (Nasalis larvatus) long-nosed monkeys at Kaget Island Zoo at the Barito River delta, Barito Kuala regency, are reportedly facing a food shortage.

The head of the Forestry Ministry, Santoso Notoatmodjo, said the animals had begun to suffer because rice fringes, which were their main food, had died as the result of the drought.

Antara quoted him as saying Friday that 195 apes had been evacuated to shelters on several islands including Kambang, Panci and Muara Anjir, while another 10 had been removed to Surabaya Zoo in East Java. (09)