The 13 infants were about to be smuggled from Sumatra to Java by boat.
At that very moment, JAAN’s sniffer dog team was present in the port of South Sumatra and the dogs detected the hidden monkeys.
In collaboration with the authorities, JAAN confiscated the animals, and they are now being cared for at the Sumatra Wildlife Center. Sadly, three of the rescued monkeys were in such critical condition that they did not survive the appalling circumstances they had endured...
Luckily, the 10 remaining monkeys (eightlong-tailed macaques and two Lampung monkeys) still have a chance to survive! They are now receiving care at the Sumatra Wildlife Center and require intensive, round-the-clock attention. They are only six weeks old and deeply traumatized by everything they have experienced in such a short time. At this age, baby monkeys would normally cling to their mothers,who were most likely shot and killed by poachers. The infants were then torn from their mothers’ lifeless bodies and, without care, food, or water, crammed into crates and transported over long distances.
These monkeys still have a long rehabilitation journey ahead. JAAN’s goal is to eventually release them as confident, independent adults into a protected area of rainforest.
This, of course, requires an intensive rehabilitation process. To cover the costs of their specialized care, medical treatment, and the full rehabilitation program, we are seeking sponsors for each of the monkeys.
Impact and Recognition
Femke has become one of the most visible and respected voices in animal welfare in Southeast Asia. Media coverage — including feature interviews and international reporting — highlights both her hands-on work and her broader vision for lasting change. Her work is not just about saving individual animals, but shifting public perception, supporting legal enforcement, and building institutional capacity to tackle the illegal wildlife trade for the long term.
Why It Matters
Indonesia is a global hotspot for biodiversity, but it also faces severe threats from illegal trade and exploitation. Femke has consistently pointed out that rescuing animals is only part of the solution — to stop suffering at the source, JAAN must disrupt the systems that drive trade, strengthen government action, and change societal attitudes. Her leadership reflects a commitment to collaborative, compassionate conservation — one that bridges field operations, law enforcement, and public outreach to protect Indonesia’s rare and endangered species.
