On
Monday 19 September 2022, a joint team from Scorpion Foundation Indonesia, the
Wildlife Authority (BBKSDA) from Region II office and forestry policemen from
Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) in Pekan Kutam Baru village, succeeded in
evacuating a pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemistrina) and a long-tailed macaque
(Macaca fascicularis) kept by a resident in the town of Pekan Kutam
Baru, Marike sub-district of Langkat Regency.
Some of the villagers in Pekan Kuantam Baru believe
that keeping macaques around their houses can ward off various pests on farm
animals. There is no study to prove this so far.
The
team explained to the macaques owner that the macaques can transmit disease to
humans or vice versa humans can transmit disease to the masques. The macaques
owner agreed to hand over his macaques after the BBKSDA-SU officer explained that
the macaques will be returned to the wild again when ready.
The
owner said, he already kept his pig-tailed macaque for more than
10 years while the long-tailed macaque was kept for 3 years.
