The long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), a primate species found across much of Southeast Asia, is facing increasing threats to its population and habitat in Indonesia.
The species, most commonly found in Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Kalimantan, is now classified as vulnerable to extinction due to hunting and exploitation. As a highly visible and ecologically significant primate, it plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
Although highly adaptable to different environments, the species’ habitat is under growing pressure. One sign of this disturbance is the increasing frequency of macaques entering residential areas.
“When they begin entering human settlements, it indicates problems in their food chain and natural habitat,” said Professor Huda S. Darusman, Head of the Primate Research Center at IPB University, during a discussion titled Three Planetary Crises: Solutions for Human–Wildlife Coexistence on Saturday, Aug. 9.
According to Professor Darusman, ensuring primate welfare and protecting their ecosystems is essential to sustaining the species, which in some regions has become rare due to land conversion and poaching.
“Animal welfare and freedom are key aspects that must be addressed,” the professor said.
Wildlife conservation expert and member of the Indonesian Biodiversity Index Committee, Professor Hadi Sukadi Alikodra, emphasized that the long-tailed macaque is increasingly at risk of extinction.
“Academia and the government must establish measures to address the threats facing Macaca fascicularis,” he said.
Dean of the UGM Faculty of Biology and Chair of the Indonesian Biology Consortium (KOBI), Professor Budi Setiadi Daryono, called on the government and the public to protect Indonesia’s rich biodiversity.
“Let us work together to protect our planet. Let us seek solutions rather than create problems. And let us live in peace alongside all living beings, including Macaca fascicularis,” he said.
Wildlife observer from the UGM Faculty of Biology, Dr. Susilohadi, highlighted the challenge of limited resources, noting that modernization, population growth, and rapid development have led to habitat loss and environmental degradation.
“We must prioritize environmental ethics so that we can move toward ecocentrism and coexist harmoniously with nature,” he concluded.
Author: Alena
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Illustration: commons.wikimedia