
Organisation: PINA e.V. and Selamatkan Yaki
Project focus: Strengthening mitigation measures to protect the Sulawesi Crested Black Macaque
Location: Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Project date: November 2020 – October 2021
Species: Sulawesi Crested Black Macaque Macaca nigra
Supported by: Fondation Segré
The challenge
The Sulawesi Crested Black Macaque occurs on northeastern Sulawesi, Indonesia and the adjacent islands of Pulau Manadotua and Pulau Talise. It is threatened by habitat loss and from hunting, both for bush meat and for live animal trade. The species can be found in several protected areas, but Tangkoko Nature Reserve is the most likely viable natural population remaining.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has reduced funding for the reserve and led to an increase in agricultural expansion and forest exploitation by local communities. Increased human macaque conflict is also negatively affecting community opinion and support for protection.
The timing of the pandemic, coupled with increase in conflict issues, resulted in an urgent need to strengthen engagement with local communities and establish regular patrol presence in the area surrounding the nature reserve.
The project
To strengthen conservation action for the Sulawesi Crested Black Macaque, the project applied for funds to tackle issues by working with local communities to:
- Train and deploy community patrol personnel
- Conduct patrols and monitoring using SMART
- Strengthen human-wildlife conflict mitigation
- Implement community-led outreach with local households to encourage local biodiversity protection
Project reports
The ASAP Species Rapid Action Fund is supported by: