TEMPO.CO, Mentawai - Four endemic primates in Mentawai Islands known as bilou (Hylobates klossii), joja (Presbytis potenziani), bokoi (Macaca pagensis), and simakobu (Simias concolor) undergo population decline as they are hunted for food, similar to fate of Kalimantan’s orangutans. The primates are spread across four big islands in Mentawai such as Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai, and South Pagai.
Since 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed simakobu and bokoi as “Critically Endangered”. Bilou and joja are listed as “Endangered”, while bokoi Siberut (Macaca siberu) is listed as “Vulnerable”.
Susilo Hadi, a researcher from Gadjah Mada University Yogyakarta who had studied Mentawai primates intensively from 2005 to 2009, said that the serious threat is coming from the hunting performed by local people. Traditional society in Mentawai hunt the primate for daily consumption and to be served in punen (a traditional rites).
“The number of the primates is still large. However, considering the threatening activity, these four species are clearly threatened,” said Susilo last Wednesday.
“Hunting activity is increasing as the result of land opening, which makes it easier for hunters to penetrate into the forest.”
According to Susilo, people hunt primates in Siberut with large groups for the punen, or as individuals for daily consumption.
“I once followed the large hunting in Politcoman that was performed for Christmas, they caught 32 monkeys,” Susilo recalled, saying that this kind of hunting poses biggest threat to the primates.
“In the old days, people used poisoned arrows for hunting, now they use shotguns with poisoned bullets. Only elderly still hunt with arrows,” said Susilo.
Land clearing is said to facilitate the hunting because it removes trees as the primates’ habitation.
To protect the primates, Susilo suggested zonation where primates are not allowed to be disturbed. The smaller the island, the more vulnerable is the inhabiting primates. Ecotourism, Susilo said, can be an alternative.
Head of Siberut National Park Region I, Junaidi, added that illegal trading is also a threat for primate population.
“Illegal trading of primates becomes our serious concern because there are lots of entrance that needs extra watch in Siberut. Bilou is the most-traded primate as souvenirs and pets because of its small figure,” said Junaidi on Wednesday.
During 2010 to 2015, Siberut National Park has confiscated 8 bilou from local residents. Until today, there is no data regarding the population of these four primate species, both in Mentawai and Siberut.
A survey by the national park and Muhammadiyah University West Sumatra in 2014 recorded 1,934 bilou, 4.045 simakobu, 1,832joja, and bokoi 1,831. The survey was performed in six locations in Siberut including Bojakan, Cimpungan, Sirisurak, Matotonan, Sagulubek, dan Kaleak.
“We will continue the survey on the same locations in the upcoming July to see the population growth,” Junaidi explained.
“The primates’ only and last fort is Siberut National Park.”
FEBRIANTI
