Indonesian Primate Day Campaign at Car Free Day Jakarta

To commemorate Indonesian Primate Day (HPI) on January 30, the Indonesian Orangutan Conservation Forum (FORINA), Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI), Kukangku, and Gibbonesia, in collaboration with students and environmental communities, are hosting “Edufun and a Sympathetic Campaign for Primates.” The event will take place at Car Free Day, specifically at Tugu Sepeda, Setiabudi, Jakarta, under the theme “Harmony in Feeling and Action for Primates.”

This event aims to raise public awareness and empathy about the importance of primate conservation through engaging activities, encouraging not just understanding but also real action to protect primates in Indonesia. The event kicks off with a morning exercise session, featuring orangutan and Javan gibbon mascots that will interactively educate visitors.

Other exciting activities include an educational exhibition, art performances, face painting, and creative campaigns advocating for primate conservation. Through these initiatives, the event hopes to educate the public on the vital role primates play in the ecosystem and the threats they face.

Fitri Adzan Ramadhani, Chairperson of Orangutan Youth Life (OLY) Batch 2, stated,

“This is an important moment for environmental activists, especially in primate conservation, to raise awareness about the need to protect Indonesia’s primates.”

Indonesia ranks third in the world for primate diversity, home to species ranging from the tiny Tarsier to the great Orangutan. Each species plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of tropical forest ecosystems. Protecting primates means safeguarding a healthy, clean, and sustainable environment.

Fitri added,

“I hope this event becomes an annual initiative to educate the public about primate conservation in their natural habitat. I also hope Indonesians can embrace this cause with both heart and action.”

Ronna Saab, Executive Chair of FORINA, emphasized,

“Indonesia’s primates are not only an extraordinary natural treasure but also an integral part of our forests’ identity. Every community, young and old, can contribute—whether by supporting conservation efforts, avoiding exploitation, or spreading awareness about the importance of protecting primates and their habitats. The more collaboration we build, the stronger our voice in advocating for orangutan and primate conservation in Indonesia.”

Indonesia is home to 64 primate species, with 45 of them being endemic. Among these, 37 species are protected, but 38 are critically endangered or threatened with extinction. These facts highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts to ensure the survival of Indonesia’s primates and the ecosystems that depend on them.