The Sumatra Wildlife Center
In South Sumatra, a new rescue center, the "Sumatra Wildlife Center", is being built by JAAN Wildlife. The purpose of this center is to stop the international animal trade.
Sumatra is the habitat of many endangered species. However, many thousands of animals are caught annually by order of illegal animal traders. For example, Orangutan babies are often the victims. Their mothers are shot and the babies are traded. But also other types of primates, all kinds of birds, bears, crocodiles, snakes and many other species. These animals are brought to the port on South Sumatra via smuggling routes, from there the animals make the crossing to Java and via the airport of Jakarta they are flown all over the world.
Fortunately, animals are intercepted and seized regularly at the airport. The big problem, however, is that when the animals are confiscated on Java, it is a terrible hassle to get the animals back to their original habitat. Last year, for example, a baby confiscated at the airport, Orang Oetan, lived lonely in a booth at the airport for a year because it took so long to prepare the paperwork. This lengthy process is entirely at the expense of the chances that the animal gets to develop further and the possibilities for rehabilitation.
To prevent this kind of terrible situation in the future and to speed up the process of rehabilitation, JAAN has started the construction of the Sumatra Wildlife Center. JAAN is the only organization in Indonesia with people who specialize in catching and moving all wild animals. JAAN is therefore always asked by the national police to assist with seizures of animals. JAAN will also work with the national police for this new project to make the seizures. The center is built on 7000 m2 of land that was purchased by JAAN. This land is located along the smuggling route and close to the port from where the animals are smuggled to Java. The new center will be able to catch all types of wild animals immediately and thanks to its extensive network ensure that they rehabilitate in the shortest possible time. For example, Orang Utans are taken to the specialized SOCP rescue center in North Sumatra where they guide the animals back to the wild through a special program.
K9 Scent Imprint dogs
In the Netherlands, the k9 scent imprint dog Bailey was trained last year to detect smuggled animals. This dog has moved to Indonesia and is now accompanied by 5 more dogs!
Bailey and the other tracking dogs will be deployed most on the ships that sail from Sumatra to Java. If smuggled animals are aboard the boats, these animals can be immediately seized after detection by the tracking dogs. The animals are then taken directly to the Sumatra Wildlife Center, where they are examined and treated if necessary. And so the process of successful rehabilitation has become a lot shorter. JAAN therefore cooperates with the national police for this and therefore receives full cooperation from the government.
JAAN has previously assisted the Ministry of Forestry with moving rescued animals in Lampung (South Sumatra). In 2015, the ministry left its office in Lampung and since then she is no longer active in the area. There are also no other animal protection organizations active in the area and there are no facilities for confiscated animals.
Illegal trade caught
Another important advantage of the earlier discovery of smuggled animals is that the illegal traders are caught more easily. Because the animals have only just arrived on the ships, it is logically much easier to show where the animals come from and by whom they were put on transport.
In addition to catching up with illegal animal traders when intercepting smuggled animals on boats, JAAN is also actively investigating illegal trade. This is done through undercover research and internet research. These investigations are not without risk and therefore many arrests are not brought out in Indonesia for security reasons and effectiveness of the ongoing investigations.
The Sumatra Wildlife Center, more than a rescue center
The Sumatra Wildlife Center will be a center full of knowledge and specialty. The main objective is to stop the illegal animal trade. In addition, there will be an education center and we will help develop the local population.
The SWC is built on 7000 m2 of private land. There are now cages for the care of animals and the clinic has a minimum equipment. After this, the basic facilities are placed: water, electricity and sewerage. Natural barriers will be created between all facilities. Accommodation for permanent staff will be built at the end. 3000 m2 of land is still needed for growing fruit and vegetables. This is necessary to be self-sufficient in food and to educate people in growing fruit and vegetables in the most sustainable and natural way. This cannot all take place on the same site i.c.w. stress for the animals and risk of diseases.
Learning young is done old
To attract children and young people to the center for education, a skate park and climbing wall have been built. When the children / youngsters come to skate they are unknowingly and consciously involved in the SWC. As a result, their parents will also come to the SWC and with that more and more people will become positively involved with the center and understand the importance of protecting animals. It is of course important that this happens at a young age.
Self-sufficient
We will grow our own fruit and vegetables to be able to provide food for the animals and employees. For this we will educate locals how to grow vegetables and fruit and ensure stable yields. These people can sell the surpluses on the market. Because this is done in-house, we also know that no pesticides are used and we can safely give it to all animals.
Dance monkeys
A number of ongoing JAAN projects will be relocated to SWC in the coming year and a half. For example, we have a long-term project in which we take dance monkeys off the street. We have already introduced a ban on dance monkeys in Indonesia. We take care of the ex dance monkeys and give them the medical care they need. The animals are first placed in quarantine and then the process of re-socialization takes place. They learn to be real monkey again and remain under our care until we know that nature will give them an even better life. After this they are released into a safe piece of forest and then remain under surveillance for some time. In a year and a half the dance monkey project will end in Java. This land is all on loan. And that is therefore temporary. If monkeys are still seized on Java, they will be taken care of on Sumatra. The monkeys that are confiscated earlier will immediately start their trajectory in the SWC.
Education
The SWC is ideal for serving as a knowledge center. In particular the local population will be taught in several areas, including in the field of animal suffering, animal care and the gathering of a different way of income (other than animal trade).
The land where fruit and vegetables are grown will also be used for education, where the local population can learn how the land can be used efficiently (without running out of minerals) and organically (without using pesticides). "Self-sufficiency" is an important word here. The land for growing fruit and vegetables will provide the Sumatra Wildlife Center with the large quantities of "well-grown" vegetables but also the residents / employees who are committed to JAAN. They too can provide themselves with fruit and vegetables through the soil.
