JABAR EKSPRES – The Southeast Sulawesi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has released one monkey endemic to Buton Island, Macaca Ochreata Brunescens.
Head of Region I Section of Southeast Sulawesi BKSDA Laode Kaida said in an official statement received in Kendari on Friday that the agency received the monkey from the Fire Department of Baubau City, Southeast Sulawesi Province, on Saturday (3/6).
“The monkey was obtained from the people of Wajo Village, Baubau City, which was then handed over to the Fire Department before finally being handed over to us,” said Laode Kaida.
He revealed that before being released into the wild, the animal was quarantined at the Baubau KSDA Resort Office.
Laode Kaida explained that the release of the endemic Buton Island monkey was in conjunction with the commemoration of World Environment Day.
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He said that they traveled 62 kilometers from Baubau City to the release site in Buton Regency.
“We departed from Baubau City at 09.00 WITA to the location with a distance of 62 kilometers to release the animal to its natural habitat in Lambusango Wildlife Sanctuary, Buton Regency,” he explained.
Laode Kaida added that at 11:20 WITA, the monkey endemic to Buton Island was successfully released.
It is known that Macaca ochreata is one of Sulawesi’s endemic primates, whose distribution is found in Southeast Sulawesi.
Currently there is very little research on Macaca ochreata, there is only one study on the habitat and population of Macaca ochreata in Tanjung Peropa Wildlife Sanctuary (SMTP) which was conducted 35 years ago by Bismark so that the latest data on the habitat and population of Macaca ochreata in SMTP is needed.
