Javan Lutung Injured After Being Hit by Truck, Cianjur Police Hand Over to West Java BKSDA

The Cianjur District Police in West Java have handed over a Javan Lutung to officers from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA). The primate, scientifically known as Trachypithecus Auratus, was found injured after being hit by a truck on the Bandung Highway in the Ciranjang District on Friday (11/9).

The handover took place at the Cianjur Police Headquarters on Saturday (12/9). The protected animal will subsequently be evacuated to Sukabumi Regency.

The Head of Traffic Unit at Cianjur Police, Assistant Commissioner Aang Andi Suhandi, stated that the animal was secured following reports from the public. Local police, upon receiving the report, immediately secured the animal due to its injuries.

“Officers from the Ciranjang Police Sub-station received reports from the community regarding a lutung that had been hit by a box truck. It was secured at the sub-station, and we subsequently evacuated it yesterday (Friday) to the Cianjur Police Traffic Unit,” Aang told reporters following the handover to the West Java BKSDA officers on Saturday (12/9).

Aang noted that the incident occurred in Kampung Curug, Cibiuk Village, Ciranjang District. This information was followed up by establishing coordination and communication with the BKSDA.

“We appreciate the community for reporting this information so promptly. Moving forward, we have handed this lutung over to the BKSDA as the authorised institution,” he concluded.

West Java BKSDA Forestry Instructor, Putri Dita Aisyah, expressed appreciation to the police for their swift action in evacuating the primate. The animal will be placed under the care of the BKSDA at the Cikananga Animal Rescue Centre (PPSC) in Cisitu Village, Nyalindung District, Sukabumi Regency.

“At the PPSC, a rehabilitation and examination process will be conducted before it is returned to its habitat,” said Putri.

West Java BKSDA has opened a call centre service to ensure that when the public encounters protected wildlife roaming freely, they can report it immediately. This is because sightings of protected species in Cianjur occur relatively frequently.

“In doing so, we are helping to strive for the preservation of protected wildlife and their habitats. Furthermore, this is to anticipate the transmission of diseases from wild animals, particularly primates such as this Javan Lutung,” she concluded.