Supporting Indonesian Wildlife Rescue Centre

Global wildlife charity Wild Welfare were recently invited to deliver their innovative training programme at Cikananga Wildlife Rescue Centre in Indonesia. The centre, located in West Java is home to over 250 animals, most of which have been confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade or rehomed due to human-wildlife conflicts.

The five day training programme was designed to encourage critical thinking skills, assisting animal caregivers to develop a refined understanding of welfare principles. Participants can explore how to practically apply these skills to further improve care and welfare for the diverse range of animals at the centre, including critically endangered species such as the Javan Green Magpie and Javan Warty Pigs.

Wild Welfare’s comprehensive guided training programme is an adapted in-person version of the charity’s popular free ‘Wild About Welfare’ online e-learning resource. The live programme was presented in both Bahasa Indonesia and English, including theory modules and hands-on practical sessions. 

Building feeding enrichment with the Cikananga team.

During the first day of the course, almost twenty participants, including bird keepers and reptile specialists, discussed the importance of creating opportunities to promote natural species-specific behaviours and why this is important for animals under human care. This platform gave keepers the chance to consider and discuss why practices such as dynamic branching for birds or appropriate enrichment provision for primates gives them the opportunity to thrive.

The training sessions encouraged collaboration and knowledge-sharing through the open discussion of past challenges and successes. Participants explored advanced environmental enrichment techniques, innovative enclosure design, and optimised animal feeding practices.

Food enrichment exercise with the animal care team at Cikananga.

From the animal’s perspective, the week was filled with new and exciting surprises. The Javan porcupines eagerly explored enrichment devices designed, built and assessed by their carers. The group also investigated a variety of unique and challenging food presentation solutions for the binturongs; including treat parcels, food smears and smoothies. Binturongs, being naturally inquisitive animals, have complex foraging behaviours. This activity helps to stimulate their refined senses and encourage naturalistic behaviours.

Trainees also engaged in an exercise to conduct a practice welfare assessment on the centre’s slow loris and cassowaries. This exercise brought together all elements of the course allowing each team member to apply their acquired knowledge and skills in a real-world scenario. Animal welfare assessments involve a systematic, evidence-based evaluation of an animal’s well-being across the five domains of nutrition, environment, health, behaviour and mental state. This important process can help to identify and prioritise where positive improvements can be made within a facility and its practices. 

During the week’s training, the Wild Welfare course facilitators Simon and Sarah were introduced to a variety of beautiful animals with tragic or surprising back stories. This included 

Hanny the rescued sun bear in Indonesia.

Hanny, a rescued sun bear living at the centre. Hanny was destined for the dinner plate after being involved in the illegal wildlife trade, before being rehomed at the Cikananga Wildlife Rescue Centre. Her inspiring story underscores the importance of centres meeting the different life-long care needs of rescued animals and those who are potentially destined for release back into the wild. “Ensuring that all facilities have the skills and confidence to drive forward animal welfare standards for vulnerable rescued wildlife is the cornerstone of our important collaborative project work” explained Simon Marsh, Director at Wild Welfare. 

“We would like to extend a huge thank you to the team at Cikananga and Wanicare for kindly hosting us during the training. It was fantastic to work with their wonderfully enthusiastic team. We look forward to continuing our work with dedicated organisations like Cikananga to make a lasting difference for rescued animals around the globe.” affirmed Simon. This successful collaboration highlights the potential of future partnerships and the positive impact they can achieve together for the welfare of animals.

Endangered Warty Pigs at Cikananga Rescue Centre.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information or interview requests please contact Wild Welfare on communications@wildwelfare.org

Wild Welfare is a global organisation committed to improving animal welfare for captive wild animals. By uniting the world’s leading zoos, zoo associations and animal welfare organisations, we build trusting partnerships that help provide long-term solutions to critical wild animal welfare issues.

Our vision is to end the suffering of captive wild animals around the world and ensure full and sustainable protection is given to all animals in human care. Find out more at wildwelfare.org. Registered charity in England (no.1165941).