On Thursday, September 22, 2022, the Scorpion Foundation
Indonesia held the inauguration ceremony for a newly established Macaque Rescue
Center (PPS) in Hapesong Baru village, Batang Toru, in the sub-district of the South
Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra province. This event aimed to inform the guests
and the public about the macaque conservation programme initiated by the
Scorpion Foundation Indonesia and the Wildlife Authority in North Sumatra
(BBKSDA-SU) through the Center.
During the inauguration ceremony, the Scorpion Foundation
invited representatives from various organisations who played an active role in
assisting the establishment of the new Center. The ceremony was attended by
staff from BBKSDA SU, Animals Asia Foundation (U.K.), Animal Protection Denmark
(APD), the Head of Hapesong Baru Village, State-owned company (PTPN 3 Batang
Toru), Batang Toru sub-district police, Batang Toru sub-district government, and
PT Agincourt Resource.
Representatives from some NGOs also attended the ceremony,
including Dongan Ni Mawas-Batang Toru Barat (Friends of The Tapanuli
Orangutans-West Batang Toru), Sumatra
Rainforest Institute (SRI), Orangutan Information Center (OIC), and The Foundation for Sustainable
Ecosystem (YEL). The event featured a speech from the head of Region III
Padangsidimpuan of BKSDA-SU, who introduced the macaque conservation programme
through the Center. The inauguration ceremony was completed with a cone-shaped
rice cutting (potong nasi tumpeng) - a traditional celebration in North
Sumatra.
The Macaque Rescue Center was established to support the conservation of long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques. The Centre's facilities include an office and an employee mess, an animal food storage room, a clinic, a warehouse for handyman equipment, quarantine, 18 isolation cages, and a socialization/rehabilitation enclosure.
The Scorpion Foundation has also hired a doctor (vet.), 3 trained animal keepers, and a cook for the Macaque Rescue Center.
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has recently uplisted long-tailed macaque (Macaca Fascicularis) as an Endangered species.
Rehabilitation/socialisation enclosure of the Macaque Rescue Center in Hapesong Baru, Batang Toru sub-district, South Tapanuli regency.
Another picture of the rehabilitation/socialisation enclosure.
Clinic of the Rescue Centre: A view from outside.
Clinic of the rescue centre: a view inside.
Quarantine of the Macaque Recue Centre.
Isolation cages.
Head of Region III Padangsidimpuan, BBKSDA-SU, Gunawan Alza, S.Hut giving an introduction to the macaque conservation programme through the Rescue Center.
Executive Director of Scorpion Foundation, Ali Bangun Gea, introducing the facility of the Rescue Center in his inauguration speech.
Some of the invited guests at the inauguration ceremony.
Scorpion Foundation key officers and guests.
Front row from left: Dave Neale (Animal Welfare Director of Animals Asia Foundation, U.K.), Anne Sofie Meilvang (A Biologist and International Projects Manager of Animal Protection Denmark/APD), and Icha Maria Novita (Veterinary doctor of the Scorpion Macaque Rescue Center).
Picture of guests at the inauguration ceremony.
Executive Director of Scorpion Foundation, Ali Bangun Gea, and guests.
Visiting the rehabilitation/socialisation enclosure.
LINKS TO LOCAL MEDIA REPORTS ON THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY:
https://www.suaratani.com/2022/10/yayasan-scorpion-indonesia-resmikan-pps.html
https://www.fokusmedan.com/2022/10/04/yayasan-scorpion-indonesia-resmikan-pusat-penyelamatan-satwa-macaca/
https://www.lensamedan.co.id/2022/10/yayasan-scorpion-indonesia-resmikan.html
http://ksdae.menlhk.go.id/info/11336/upaya-penyelamatan-macaca-di-sumatera-utara.html
