TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo's move to ban masked monkey performance circus across Jakarta had just been carried out this Tuesday.

Head of Jakarta Maritime and Agriculture Agency, Ipih Ruyani, said that her team had been conducting inspection on masked monkey street performers throughout Jakarta. Until Tuesday morning, October 22, 2013, they only had seized two masked monkey performers.

Ipih said that the government understands that their monkeys are the source of income. Therefore, the government "bought" the monkeys from their handlers. "We also gave Rp1 million to the handlers, so they can used it to start a new business," Ipih told Tempo.

The monkeys seized from this inspection will be treated first in the Fish and Animal Health Association (BKHI). "If they have been determined to be free from disease and rabies, they will be moved to Ragunan Zoo," Ipih said.

The government's move was done to achieve the 'Jakarta Bebas Topeng Monyet 2014' (Jakarta Free of Masked Monkey Performers 2014). Governor Joko Widodo said that the masked monkey performance circus is an animal exploitation and had gained international attention.

ANGGRITA DESYANI