31 'dancing monkeys’ rescued from Indonesia's cruel Topeng Monyet trade
News
Thanks to your wonderful support, 31 monkeys were successfully rescued as part of our joint rescue operation with Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN).
Image: Subur the dancing monkey before rescue. Images courtesy of Jakarta Animal Aid Network
The monkeys have been safely transferred to JAAN’s rehabilitation centre in Cikole, West Java where they will receive the love and care they’ve always deserved – thanks to you. Their rehabilitation program will aim to help them heal from their physical and mental trauma, and eventually reunite them with their counterparts in the wild.
Their rescue marks a significant victory in our joint mission to end the brutal ‘Topeng Monyet’ trade for good, bringing Indonesia closer to a future free from this cruel practice.
Their traumatic past as ‘dancing monkeys’
These long-tailed macaques were stolen from the wild as infants and subjected to a cruel training regime designed to make them perform for tourists on busy streets.
Typical ‘dancing monkey’ training methods involve starvation, physical abuse, and confinement in tiny cages or dark boxes when not performing. They are often chained by their necks, dressed in masks and doll outfits, and made to stand on two legs for hours on end, with the constant threat of choking.
Because of the pain and trauma these monkeys have endured there’s a long road ahead to ensure they have fully recovered and can hopefully be released back into the wild. With your support, this is not only possible – it's within reach.
First step to a new life at JAAN’s rehabilitation centre
Monkeys rescued from human exploitation often suffer from infected open wounds and worms as a result of prolonged neglect, abuse and inadequate nutrition. Some even suffer from old gunshot wounds from their capture from the wild.
But our partners at JAAN have witnessed first-hand how even just a little love and care can help such previously abused monkeys not only overcome their past trauma but truly thrive.
With over a decade of experience in rescuing and rehabilitating more than 130 ‘dancing monkeys’ to date, JAAN has the expertise and infrastructure to rehabilitate, nurture, and give these monkeys high quality care.
Preparing the monkeys to return to the wild
After two to three months of undergoing medical checks and receiving necessary treatment, the monkeys will then be released into large, specially equipped rehabilitation enclosures. These are filled with enrichments such as tree trunks, ropes and swings to meet their needs as primates.
They will be provided with a variety of nutritious snacks that they would find in the wild, including crickets, seeds and leaves.
Eventually, the monkeys will carefully be combined into family groups according to their age and gender – similar to their counterparts in the wild. They will be closely monitored during this socialisation process which can sometimes take more than a year.
When these naturally curious and sociable animals become comfortable in each other's presence and their group solidifies, staff at JAAN will prepare for their safe release through their proven protocols.
Releasing the monkeys back into their natural habitat
Before beginning the journey to a location deep in the lush green forests of Indonesia, our partners ensure each monkey has been sufficiently fed and hydrated. They also ensure they have proper shade and ventilation, as well as regular welfare checks during their journey to freedom.
After arriving at the location, the monkeys are initially released into a semi-wild environment covered by a strong, thick net known as a ‘habituation enclosure’. Here, they will be monitored and fed with minimal contact for four to five days before the team makes a call to open these nets.
Finally, the monkeys truly re-enter their wild homes and are monitored for another two weeks to ensure they can survive without human intervention.
With your support, we can rehabilitate and release these monkeys back into the wild, where they belong.
Help rehabilitate and release monkeys
Will you please help rehabilitate 31 traumatised monkeys who were exploited in the ‘Topeng Monyet’ trade for human amusement?