Ministry of Forestry and Community Collaborate to Rescue Endangered Javan Langur and Crested Hawk-Eagle

A veterinary paramedic conducting a livestock census in Bondowoso, East Java, discovered a protected Javan Langur (Trachypithecus auratus) being kept by a resident, leading to a successful collaborative rescue effort. The Ministry of Forestry reported that the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) evacuated the langur, named ‘Momon’, from a home in Sukosari Lor Village, Sukosari District, on Wednesday after the owner voluntarily surrendered the animal. The paramedic found the primate tied up near a resident’s house and, recognising it as a protected species, reported the finding to a local veterinarian, who then coordinated with BBKSDA East Java. Officials from BBKSDA, together with the local police, military, and the Bondowoso Livestock and Fisheries Agency, approached the owner. Through persuasive communication, they explained the protected status of the Javan Langur, its ecological role, and the proper procedures for handling wild animals. The owner admitted to finding Momon as an infant in a coffee plantation three to four years ago and raising it out of pity, unaware of the legal requirements. Following the voluntary surrender, the langur underwent a health examination and was transferred to the Jember Mini Zoo Conservation Institution for rehabilitation and behavioural observation before potential release back into the wild. The Ministry of Forestry stated that this case demonstrates how education and communication can be more effective than punitive measures in conservation enforcement. The Javan Langur is an endemic primate protected by Indonesian law, playing a crucial role in forest regeneration through seed dispersal. The Ministry urged the public not to capture, keep, or trade protected wildlife and to report any findings to the local Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) to ensure proper handling in accordance with animal welfare principles.