Thirteen wild-caught baby macaques, only a few weeks old, were rescued in Sumatra after being torn from their mothers and trafficked towards Jakarta. Tragically, one baby was too weak to survive, but the twelve survivors are now growing stronger under JAAN (Jakarta Animal Aid Network) Wildlife’s dedicated care, supported by emergency funding from Lady Freethinker’s compassionate supporters. As the babies begin their next stage of rehabilitation, Lady Freethinker and JAAN are also working to pursue justice for the traffickers and push for stronger legal protections to help stop more macaques from suffering the same fate.
The 13 wild-caught baby macaques, only a few weeks old, were rescued in February after traders were caught trafficking them from the forests of Sumatra towards a harbor, where they were destined to be taken to Jakarta.
Poachers had brutally killed their mothers in the wild before stealing the babies. When authorities found them, they were crammed into a barren box with no comfort, no food, and no milk, while being transported on a passenger bus towards the harbor.
Baby Macaques Packed Into Crate To Be Smuggled (Courtesy of JAAN Wildlife)
They must have been terrified: just weeks old, separated from their mothers, trapped, cold, hungry, and afraid.
Thankfully, quarantine authorities stopped the traders at the harbor in Sumatra, and our partners at JAAN Wildlife immediately took the babies into care at their Sumatra Wildlife Center.
Tragically, one baby was too weak to survive and passed away within the first three hours after rescue.
With emergency funding from Lady Freethinker – made possible by generous supporters like you – JAAN Wildlife was able to provide the urgent, specialized care these babies desperately needed.
Since February, the 12 surviving baby macaques have been undergoing intensive care and rehabilitation. They arrived severely traumatized, cold, and fragile, and JAAN Wildlife’s dedicated caretakers and veterinary team have worked day and night to give them the best possible chance of survival – providing the round-the-clock bottle feedings newborns need, along with warmth, temperature monitoring, veterinary treatment, and comfort to help replace the security they lost when their mothers were killed.
Baby Macaque After Rescue (Courtesy of JAAN Wildlife)
There is now hope.
Slowly, with this dedicated care, the babies have begun to regain strength after the trauma they endured. Thanks to the aid of Lady Freethinker’s compassionate supporters, the surviving babies are now growing well and are healthy. Until now, they have been cared for in pairs to keep them safe and closely monitored, but they are ready for their next phase of rehabilitation: learning through play and exploration.
New Enclosure (Courtesy of JAAN Wildlife)
A new enclosure has been built especially for them, where they can climb, explore, and learn together as one large group – a vital step in their development and rehabilitation. The ultimate goal is always to give rescued wildlife the chance to return to freedom, and we will continue working towards the day these macaques can be released back into their forest homes – in honor of their mothers, and for all those still suffering.
But saving these babies is only part of the fight.
This rescue shows why urgent change is needed. The cruel macaque trade kills mothers in the wild and leaves stolen babies facing lives of exploitation, isolation, boredom, and distress – often after being sold online as pets or props.
With Lady Freethinker’s support, JAAN’s investigations have identified sellers believed to be connected to this case and a wider wildlife trafficking network. The team is now gathering evidence needed for prosecution and will work with specialized wildlife crime lawyers to pursue justice.
Baby Macaques After Rescue (Courtesy of JAAN Wildlife)
This case also highlights a dangerous gap in the law: Macaques are not currently listed as protected wildlife in Indonesia, making it far too easy for traffickers to capture, sell, and abuse them without meaningful consequences.
Together, JAAN and Lady Freethinker will use this case to push for macaques to be officially protected, while supporters’ generosity can help provide continued care, support the legal case, and campaign for stronger laws.
These babies have already lost their mothers and endured a terrifying start to life. But because of JAAN Wildlife’s tireless dedication and Lady Freethinker’s supporters, they now have a chance to recover – and this case can help stop others from suffering the same fate.
