Activists in Aceh: Stop Primate Trade!

kampanye hari primata di AcehBanda Aceh - Celebrating the Indonesian Primate Day on 30 January 2014, anti-wildlife trade activists of ProFauna and the student association of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Syiah Kuala University staged a campaign to protest the raging primate trade, at  Simpang Lima roundabout, Banda Aceh last Thursday (30/1/2014).

Agung Kusasti, as the coordinator of the activity, claimed that primate trade has become a serious threat for the Indonesian primates, because according to the data 95% of the traded primates were captured from the wild.

The capture and transport of the traded animals are often very cruel and cause many of them died in the process," added him.

One of the most popular primates among traders is the Slow Loris (Nycticebus sp.) because it looks cute and tame, so that many people want it for pets

 "What many people do not know is that to hide the dangers of the Slow Loris, the poachers or traders remove their teeth," Agung explained and added that in 2013 only, ProFauna noted that there were at least 40 cases of online Slow Loris trade.

In this year's celebration, the activists appealed to the public to stop buying and keeping primates as pets. They are concerned because most of the people do not realize that primates kept at home may transmit zoonotic diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, and herpes.

Moreover, releasing or letting animals live in their natural habitat is the best thing to do for the sake of their conservation and to maintain ecological balance, as well as ensuring the public health.

During the campaign, around 30 activists had a theatrical performance. One person became an ill orangutan, walking around carrying a poster saying "Sold", accompanied by two men who acted as the buyer.

After distributing stickers and flyer to the passerby, the activists closed the campaign and orderly left the location. 

Source: AtjehLINK.com

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ProFauna Indonesia is an Indonesian society for the protection of
wild animals and their habitats