Sumatra’s Ghastly Primate Meat Trade

April 2002

This report was prepared by the Indonesian nature protection group KSBK-Animal Conservation for Life, working on an IPPL small grant.

Around 27 primate species inhabit Indonesia. They are spread over many islands, including Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Bali, and Sulawesi. Their survival in the wild is imperiled because of habitat loss and destruction caused by the opening of forests for farming, plantations, mining, and forest fires.

The existence of these non-human primates is also seriously threatened by the high level of primate trading in Indonesia. Primates are sold at some "bird markets." They are also sold at other places, such as shopping malls, and in some villages around the forest.

The primate trade has become a serious threat as almost 100% of primates traded in Indonesia are taken directly from the wild.

Primates are traded not only as pets but also for meat for a few wealthy people, particularly Chinese. Few Indonesians consume primates for medicinal purposes or as food.

KSBK investigations

Over the last two years KSBK, supported by the International Primate Protection League (IPPL), has conducted investigations of the primate meat trade on Sulawesi, Medan-North Sumatra, and East Java.

During 2001, KSBK cooperated with a local organization named Yayasan ALAS Indonesia, based in Lampung, Sumatra’s southernmost province, to conduct an investigation of the primate trade in the region of Lampung-Sumatra.

This study lasted from September to November 2001 and was supported by IPPL.

Trapping quotas far exceeded

Every year the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA), a branch of the Indonesian Forestry Department, issues quotas for commercial trapping of primate species lacking other legal protection. Trapping quotas are issued in an attempt to prevent trade threatening wild primate populations.

For 2001, primate quotas have been issued only for long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques. The total trapping quota for long-tailed macaques in 2001 was 2000 individuals throughout Indonesia, including all areas of Sumatra. The trapping quota for Lampung-Sumatra long-tailed macaques is 500 animals.

These monkeys are meant solely for use as breeding stock. Animals for export must be captive-bred.

The KSBK/ALAS investigation shows that the trapping quota has been ignored. A huge amount of poaching is carried on to fulfill the demand for monkeys.

Map of Sumatra

Trapping in Desa Lombok

In September 2001, an investigator from ALAS visited Desa Lombok (Lombok Village) in the Sukau District-West Lampung Region, Sumatra. Intensive primate trapping goes on in this village.

The "Rawayan" are not from this village but from Banten-West Java. The "Rawayan" are well known for their trapping skills and are believed to have a supernatural ability to catch primates. One group of "Rawayan" consists of eight trappers.

The capture method involves using nets 15 meters long and 2.5 meters high. The nets are placed in plantations or forests inhabited by primates. Meanwhile the other trappers heard the primates toward the nets.

Use of this trapping method yields 200-300 primates in 2 weeks. Most of them are long-tailed macaques. The captured primates are then shipped to the island of Java through Bandar Lampung City.

Other hunting methods

Besides using nets, another trapping method involves using food as bait to attract monkeys and then shooting them. This happens in Desa Kedaung, Desa Selapan, and Desa Rantau Tijang, located in Pardasuka District, Tanggamus Region, Lampung.

The trappers are not from the villages but from Pringsewu District and Bandar Lampung. The number of hunters varies from three to 20 people. One hunting expedition can result in the capture of up to 30 long-tailed macaques. There is at least one hunting expedition a month in Pardasuka District.

If one hunting expedition can yield 30 long-tailed macaques, then at least 360 long-tailed macaques are caught annually in Pardasuka District, while it is estimated that around 1,000 long-tailed macaques are caught per year in Desa Lombok-Sukau District.

Monkey bus crashes

The 7 August 2001 issue of the Lampung Post newspaper reported on an accident involving a car and a bus carrying hundreds of long-tailed macaques in the Desa Buay Nyerupa-Sukau region of Lampung. The monkeys were caught in Lombok village and were being sent to Telukbetung-Bandar Lampung.

The terrified primates escaped to some villagers’ plantations as a result of the accident.

The accident proves that Lombok village has become a center of primate poaching in Lampung. Ironically, this poaching is permitted by the Head of Lombok Village.

Visit to a trapper

On 8 November 2001, a KSBK investigator and Yayasan ALAS visited one of the primate trappers named Pak Romli who lives on Jalan Martadinata 98, Sukamaju in Teluk Betung Barat District. Pak Romli usually supplies primates to Bandar Lampung and sometimes to Jakarta.

In the year 2000, Romli was able to catch on average 30 primates every month. Most of them are long-tailed macaques and pig-tailed macaques. Romli is now trying to get official authorization to catch primates so that he can catch even larger numbers of animals.

Meanwhile, study of the trapping transport permits from the local Forestry Department in Lampung (BKSDA Lampung) reveals a permit issued to PT. Wanara Satwaloka, Jalan Lodaya II/3, Bogor, West Java, to catch and transport 400 long-tailed macaques from Lampung.

KSBK and ALAS estimate that more than 3,000 long-tailed macaques are caught in Lampung for trade each year, in spite of the fact that the trapping quota is only 500 individuals per year.

The primate meat trade

In some areas of Indonesia, primate trading happens mostly at "bird markets." But in Lampung, not many primates are sold at bird markets. The trade route leads directly from the trapper to the animal dealing compound or to the slaughterhouse. From the compound some primates are then transported to Java to be sold as pets.

Primates are traded for meat and are not kept as pets in Lampung. Trading is centered at slaughterhouses in Bandar Lampung City.

ALAS and KBSK have identified the two biggest slaughterhouses in Lampung, namely:

• the slaughterhouse owned by Baba Lie on Jalan KH. Ahmad Dahlan No. 117/109, Kapang Tebak Administrative area-Teluk Betung Barat, Bandar Lampung.
• the slaughterhouse owned by Lo Amen on Jalan Yos Sudarso Gang Bougenville No. 5 RT 01 RW 01 Lk II, Sukaraja Administrative area-Teluk Betung Selatan, Bandar Lampung.

Both slaughterhouses are owned by Chinese people. Chinese are also the main consumers of primate meat. Primate meat is served as soup and stew.

Visits to the slaughterhouses

There are several primate cages at Baba Lie’s place. Twelve primates are kept in cages 100 x 60 x 40 centimeters (40 x 24 x 16 inches). Ten young primates are kept in narrower cages 50 x 50 x 50 cm (20 x 20 x 20 inches). All the cages are made of iron.

Most of the primates at Baba Lie’s are long-tailed macaques and pig-tailed macaques. However, Baba Lie also has other protected primates, these are "Cecah" (a species of leaf monkey) and siamang gibbons.

Similar to Baba Lie’s, the cages in Lo Amen’s place are also narrow: 200 x 100 x 100 cm (80 x 40 x 40 inches). These cages each contain 15-20 primates. The cages are also made of iron. The primates slaughtered are mainly long-tailed macaques.

The trade in primate meat is widespread, especially in the Chinese community. In Lampung, there is a restaurant which openly offers monkey meat on the menu. The restaurant is Khuak Lok on Jalan Kartini No. 136 C Tanjung Karang, Bandar Lampung, Telp. The special menu is served only on Saturdays and costs 15,000 rupiahs (US $1.50) per portion.

The primates in the slaughterhouses are supplied by primate trappers based in various areas, including Desa Lombok, Sukau District, Padang Cermin South Lampung, and Pardasuka District.

KSBK Yayasan and ALAS investigators visited over ten different locations in Lampung to collect information about primate trapping and poaching.

Volume of primate trade

There are on average 20 primates slaughtered every week. This means that around 80 primates a month and 960 primates a year are slaughtered. Ko Amen slaughters around 50 primates each month or 600 individuals in a year. KBSK and Yayasan ALAS noted 15 primates awaiting slaughter when visiting Ko Amen’s house on 8 November 2001.

Our study shows that 1,560 primates are killed at these two slaughterhouses every year. The number does not include the primates killed at other slaughterhouses. Hence the number is larger than what was estimated by KSBK and Yayasan ALAS. The numbers far exceed the issued trapping quota of only 500 for long-tailed macaques. All of these primates are removed directly from the wild.

The price of primate meat on average is 10,000 rupiah per kilogram (US $1.00). Baba Lie also sells uncut dead monkeys for 50,000 rupiah (US $5.00) for meat from adult primates and 75,000 rupiah (US $7.50) for meat from baby monkeys.

Brutal slaughtering process

KSBS and Yayasan ALAS investigators witnessed and filmed the slaughtering process at Ko Amen’s place at the beginning of November 2001. The killing methods used at the slaughterhouses are very sadistic and inhumane.

Many consumers of primate meat believe that the meat tastes more delicious and gives the person eating it more power and strength if it is consumed along with its blood. Therefore, the monkey is often killed by burning it alive to keep the blood inside the body of the dead monkey.

Moreover, the slaughtering and burning of primates is conducted in front of other primates. The primates watch the scene and are deeply stressed and fearful at seeing their friends being slaughtered inhumanely.

The dead monkeys are hung up and the butcher burns off all the monkey’s fur. Next the monkey’s head is cut off, and the body is cut into pieces. The chunks of monkey meat are then cooked in boiled water until they become tender. The well cooked meat is ready to be made into soup or monkey satay.

The remaining monkey parts, such as the foot and leg, are usually sold for medicinal purposes. Some people believe that monkey parts can cure diseases like asthma. The parts are soaked in a glass of water and then the purchaser consumes the drink.

Monkey meat eaters are rich!

The killing of monkeys for use as meat in Lampung is frivolous and species-destructive. Monkey meat is a dish enjoyed by only a few people, especially Chinese. There are many delicious food options available in Bandar Lampung. There is no justification for killing thousands of monkeys. The consumption of primate meat supports the large-scale poaching of primates in the wild.

The cost of primate meat is low and the primate trappers are paid relatively small sums. In some villages in Lampung, long-tailed macaques are sold for 5,000-15,000 rupiah per monkey (US $0.50-1.50).

At the slaughterhouse, the price increases to 50,000-15,000 rupiah (US $5.00-7.50) per animal. Monkeys shipped to Jakarta are sold for higher prices (100,000-150,000 rupiahs or US $10.00-15.00).

The slaughter of large numbers of primates for the meat trade causes suffering to the animals involved. The consumers of primate meat are not poor, starving people - they are usually wealthy.

The trapping of thousands of primates every year in Lampung, Sumatra, for commercial purposes and for their meat is totally unnecessary.

KSBK-ALAS Recommendations The local government in Lampung must stop the killing of primates for their meat Restaurants should be forbidden to sell any primate meat or other wild animal meat. Dirjen PHKA Forestry Department and the local government in Lampung should ban the trapping of long-tailed macaques, because the trappers have far exceeded the legal quotas. Dirjen PHKA Forestry Department should ban the transportation of primates from Lampung to Java, which is often conducted illegally and involves protected species.

How you can help stop Sumatra’s primate trade

Please send courteous protest letters requesting the authorities of Sumatra and Indonesia and the Ambassador of Indonesia in your country of residence to ban trafficking in long-tailed macaques. Also express your concern at the brutal slaughter of primates for their meat. Postage from the US to Indonesia is 80 cents per ounce.

The Governor of Lampung
Jl. Wortel Monginsidi No. 69/70
Kelurahan Sumur Batu, Teluk Betung Utara,
Bandar Lampung, Lampung, Indonesia

The Minister of Forestry
Gd. Manggala Wanabakti Blok I Lt. 4
Jl. Gatot Subroro, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia

His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia
Embassy of Indonesia
2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036, USA

His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia
Embassy of Indonesia
38 Grosvenor Square
London W1X 9AD, England

His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia
Embassy of Indonesia
8 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla
ACT 2600, Australia

His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia
287 Maclaren Street, Ottawa
Ontario, Canada K2P OL9