Changes in the primate trade in indonesian wildlife markets over a 25‐year period: Fewer apes and langurs, more macaques, and slow lorises

Abstract

Indonesia has amongst the highest primate species richness, and many species are included on the country's protected species list, partially to prevent over-exploitation. Nevertheless traders continue to sell primates in open wildlife markets especially on the islands of Java and Bali. We surveyed 13 wildlife markets in 2012-2014 and combined our results with previous surveys from 1990-2009 into a 122-survey dataset with 2,424 records of 17 species. These data showed that the diversity of species in trade decreased over time, shifting from rare rainforest-dwelling primates traded alongside more widespread species that are not confined to forest to the latter type only. In the 1990s and early 2000s orangutans, gibbons and langurs were commonly traded alongside macaques and slow lorises but in the last decade macaques and slow lorises comprised the bulk of the trade. In 2012-2014 we monitored six wildlife markets in Jakarta, Bandung and Garut (all on Java), and Denpasar (Bali). During 51 surveys we recorded 1,272 primates of eight species. Traders offered long-tailed macaque (total 1,007 individuals) and three species of slow loris (228 individuals) in five of the six markets, whereas they traded ebony langurs (18 individuals), and pig-tailed macaques (14 individuals) mostly in Jakarta. Pramuka and Jatinegara markets, both in Jakarta, stood out as important hubs for the primate trade, with a clear shift in importance over time from the former to the latter. Slow lorises, orangutans, gibbons and some langurs are protected under Indonesian law, which prohibits all trade in them; of these protected species, only the slow lorises remained common in trade throughout the 25-year period. Trade in non-protected macaques and langurs is subject to strict regulations-which market traders did not follow-making all the market trade in primates that we observed illegal. Trade poses a substantial threat to Indonesian primates, and without enforcement, the sheer volume of trade may mean that species of Least Concern or Near Threatened may rapidly decline. Am. J. Primatol. 79:e22517, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Abrupt Decline in a Protected Population of Siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) in Southern Sumatra

“…However, the pattern of disappearances from 2011 to 2016 does not suggest hunting for pets, since entire groups disappeared, including adult males, subadults, and juveniles, which are not considered as appropriate pets. Evidence from pet markets on Java also suggests a substantially reduced trade in siamangs after 2012 [Nijman et al, 2015].…”

Captive Conditions of Pet Lemurs in Madagascar

“…This is often due to lack of proper care or to health problems acquired in transport and within the animal markets [Nekaris and Jaffe, 2007]. Furthermore, many individuals -up to a quarter of the primate species in Indonesian markets -exhibited physical or behavioral abnormalities [Clubb and Mason, 2007;Nekaris et al, 2010;Nijman et al, 2015]. Nijman's [2006] study of pet gibbons ( Hylobates sp.)…”

“…In a study of 179 pet primates in Mexico City, respiratory infections, gastrointestinal problems, skin and viral infections, burns, electric shocks, and intoxication were reported [Duarte-Quiroga and Estrada, 2003]. Since cage space and hygiene may be predictors of primate welfare [Nijman et al, 2015], establishing guidelines for the keeping of pet lemurs may improve their survival as well as their overall mental and physical wellbeing.…”

Illegal Trade of Wild-Captured Lemur catta within Madagascar

“…Slow lorises are among the most commonly traded primates in Indonesian areas [Shepherd et al, 2004;Nijman et al, 2017], with several thousand individuals for sale in certain markets per year [Nijman, 2010]. Moreover, slow lorises gained popularity as pets after a youtube video "Tickling slow loris" went viral in 2009 [Nekaris et al, 2013]; they are now traded across Asia and beyond [Nekaris and Jaffe, 2007;Nekaris et al, 2010].…”