Bekantan, The Endemic Borneo Primates Who Fight Againts The Extinction
Bekantan (Nasalis Larvatus) or Prosboscis monkey is a reddish-brown arboreal Old World monkey with an unusually large nose. It is endemic to the southeast Asian island of Borneo. Indonesian people also called this monkey as monyet Belanda (Dutch Monkey) or orang Belanda (Dutchman), as Indonesians remarked that the Dutch colonisers often had similarly large bellies and noses. Such a funny reason, LOL :-D
In the last few year, the population reduction of bekantan is become more worrying. Land use change, poaching, and forest fires are some of the causes of this Borneo endemic primate need to be immediately conserved. Not all people are aware that bekantan is one of the protected animals. Some people may recognize it as a recreational mascot in Jakarta.
In March 2016, the Ministry of Environment and Forest in Indonesia has established bekantan as part of 25 animals that the population should be increased. Even the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) places bekantan as a rare species.
The assessment of population and habitat survival in 2004 estimated the number of bekantan as many as 25,000 individuals. Now, the number is expected to drop dramatically. "After the 2014 forest fire, there are about 2,500 individuals residing in the conservation area. Then, outside the conservation area is still a big question because there has not been surveyed, " said Bogor Institute of Agriculture researchers, Hadi Sukadi Alikodra.
WWF's researcher, Chairul Seleh, said that WWF has handled landscape in Kubu Raya District, West Borneo with an area of 19,000 ha. There are 50 bekantan encounter points. However, about 50 percent bekantan population has decreasing in the last 10 years due to hunting.
Responding to the phenomenon, the Director General of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Wiratno, said that he would immediately review the location and conduct a socialization of the bekantan protection status. Because that, he will cooperate with Natural Resources Conservation Center and the police.
As the Indonesian young generation especially Borneo people, we must help to protect the bekantan. If we don't do that, in a few year ago bekantan will be extinct. Not only bekantan, another rare animal in Indonesia like Sumatra tiger must be protected. If not us, who else ?