Mickey and Minnie Mouse arrested at Disney!!
 
Personally, I've never been a big fan of Mickey Mouse. I've always found him a bit too squeaky-clean and a bit of a pest. So, being more of a Bugs Bunny man, myself, imagine my delight when I saw the news that both Mickey and Minnie Mouse had been arrested OUTSIDE Disney's headquarters in the U.S.A.! Oh, what fun! When I read the online article, however, I was even happier to see what had really happened, and especially to see what these dressed-up protesters had been arrested for.

The four protesters were from Rainforest Action Network (RAN), an organisation set up to raise awareness of the destruction of the world's remaining rain forests. Their mission this time; to call for Disney to stop using paper in their children's books and other products, which they claim is produced from wood-fibre harvested from Indonesia's ever-decreasing rain forests. Two of the protesters locked themselves to the main gate of the massive studio and office complex in Burbank, California, whilst 2 others, in climbing gear, climbed up onto the gate to unfurl a 35 foot banner reading “Disney: Destroying Indonesia's Rainforests.” Police soon came to take the 4 into custody and it is said they are to be charged with trespassing; almost certainly they will be released with a warning.

Bravo! A good protest all round and a fitting message. The idea that Disney, who have thrilled us all with stories of beautiful, exciting wild animals and mysterious jungles, should be held responsible for contributing to the destruction of primary and secondary growth forests in Indonesia is unthinkable. What RAN claim, however, is that Disney buys its paper from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), the largest, and  historically least sensitive, of paper producers, and that their practices are neither environmentally sound, efficient, nor morally acceptable. And with Disney purported to be the largest producer of children's books in the world, churning out over 50 million books and 30 million magazines per year, that's a huge amount of paper!

Not to mention a massive amount of money, of course, and that's where the problems start - APP, a Singaporean company, has never been perceived as a caring or ethical organisation. Started during the Suharto era by Eka Cipta Wijaja, a mega-wealthy businessman who had strong links to the ruling Suharto family at the time, APP and its many subsidiaries have been accused of destroying the forests of South-East Asia for their own financial gain, using both plantation wood and wood from established forests.

APP is alleged to be responsible for the destruction of habitat of many of Indonesia's most endangered creatures and fueling a market for wood fibre from both legal and illegal sources. It cannot be ignored that favourable links with the government may still exist and that special treatment is given to this company which allows it to continue its destructive business. In 2001, in fact, during the Asia Debt Crises, the company defaulted on a US$12 billion debt, which the government paid off using taxpayers' money. In recent years, following increasing pressure from international NGOs, corporate customers and environmental groups, APP have attempted to gain some credibility. They have been employing independent public relations and environmental strategy groups, including Greenspirit, founded by a Canadian, Dr. Patrick Moore, to write scientific propaganda. These papers support APP business and 'environ-ethical' practices based on a number of short visits to APP subsidiary paper mills, plantations and offices in Sumatra.

Clearly Mickey and Minnie haven't read these papers. The protesters state;
“It is past time for Disney to catch up with its peers and adopt a policy that guarantees tiger extinction and deforestation will no longer be found in kids’ books or in any products the company sells. Of all companies, Disney should not be harming the earth’s real magic kingdoms.”

This will be an ongoing battle, APP trying to convince environmentalists that they have changed, and the environmentalists mistrusting them, and the government's enforcement of the 'rules and regulations' for logging and plantation expansion. It will likely be a battle that APP wins financially, and the environmentalists win morally.

And as they fight, the trees will continue to be planted, to grow and to fall.

“And so, we are all connected, in the great circle of life.”

Republik Indonesia 20th May 2011

The Republic of Indonesia has just produced a moratorium on the issue of new permits for logging concessions, but no reductions on logging or any commitment to replanting 

permanent forests - is this just 

'too little, too late?'

the attached map (last page) showing the remaining forests and peat lands suggests so..

.pdf in Bahasa Indonesia

http://sipuu.setkab.go.id/buka_puu.php?id_puu=17176&file=INPRES0102011.pdf

Enlightening report about Asia Pulp and Paper's financial mess

Asia Pulp & Paper Indonesia:
The business rationale that led to
forest degradation and financial collapse

http://chrislang.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/appcifor2006.pdf

Thomas Leaf Monkey 
(Presbytis thomasi)

Appearance

Body covered in black fur with white fur on torso and under arms and legs. Face has a white V shape meeting at the eyes, with a very distinctive black mohawk hairstyle.

Size

 5-8kg

Life Span

20 years

Diet

Primarily leaf-eating, but also feeds on fruits and flowers, and occasionally toadstools and the stalks of coconuts as well as ground snails.

Home Range

12.3 to 15.7 ha.

Habitat

Primary and Secondary rainforest. Rubber and fruit plantations. Ranges in elevation up to approximately 1,500m.

Distribution 

Northern Sumatra - from the Aceh Province north of the Simpangkiri and Wampu rivers, extending southwards to the bank of the Simpangkiri River.

Behaviour and Ecology

Diurnal and arboreal. Animals live in single-male/multi-female groups. The male defends his females and not the territory, as is seen in many other territorial species. Average group size is six.

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable

Population trend

Decreasing

Threats

Loss of primary habitat due to logging and conversion to oil palm plantations. This species is protected by Indonesian law.

 Penampilan

Badan tertutup bulu hitam dengan bulu putih pada batang tubuh dan di bawah kaki dan tangan. Wajah memiliki bentuk 'V' putih bertemuan dekat mata, dengan gaya rambut 'mohawk' hitam yang bersifat membedakan.

Ukuran

5-8kg.

Life Span

20 tahun

Diet

Terutama daun, tetapi juga memakan buah-buahan dan bunga, dan kadang-kadang jamur dan batang kelapa, serta keong tanah.

Jarak gerakan

12.3 to 15.7 ha.

Habitat

Hutan Primer dan Sekunder. Perkebunan karet dan buah. Telah ditemukan di ketinggian hingga sekitar 1.500 m.

Distribusi

Sumatera bagian Utara - dari utara Provinsi Aceh dari sungai Simpangkiri dan sungai Wampu, memanjang ke arah selatan hingga tepi sungai Simpangkiri. 

Perilaku dan Ekologi

Diurnal dan arboreal. Presbytis thomasi hidup dalam kelompok single-male/multi-female. Jantan membela perempuan dan bukan wilayah, seperti yang terlihat pada banyak spesies teritorial lainnya. Rata-rata ukuran kelompok adalah enam.

Status IUCN Red List

Terancam

Tren Populasi

Penurunan

Ancaman

Hilangnya habitat utama akibat penebangan dan konversi untuk perkebunan kelapa sawit. Spesies ini dilindungi dalam hukum Indonesia.

Originally adapted from Supriatna, J. & Mittermeier, R.A. 2008 Presbytis Thomasi

Text adapted and translated into Bahasa Indonesia from Guidebook to Gunung Leuser National Park by Orangutan Information Centre (OIC) and UNESCO 

Long-Tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

Long-Tailed Macaque

(Macaca fascicularis)

Appearance

Body fur varies from grey to reddish, with lighter coloured underside. The macaques often have a noticeable pointed crest on the head where the hair grows backwards. Their face is pinkish. Males have cheek whiskers and moustache; females have a beard. Also known as the crab-eating macaque.

Size

Males: 4.7 to 8.3 kg
Females: 2.5 to 5.7 kg

Life Span

37 years

Diet

Omnivorous - fruit makes up 64% of their diet, with seeds, buds, leaves and animal prey (frogs, insects and crabs). They may also raid crops.

Home Range

25 to 200 ha.

Habitat

Very adaptable to a wide range of habitats including mangrove and swamp forests, they can also be found in agricultural areas near secondary growth, secondary forest and primary forest. Has been reported to live in elevations up to 1,000m in Sumatra.

Distribution 

This species occurs in Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India (Nicobar Islands), Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

Behaviour and Ecology

Diurnal and semi-terrestrial. They are good swimmers and will jump into water from nearby trees. They live in multi-male / multi female groups of 10 to 100 individuals.

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern

Population trend

Decreasing

Threats

Across much of the species' range, the major threat is hunting. In mainland Sountheast Asia, females are taken into breeding facilities and males are exported internationally for use in laboratory research. Habitat loss is a localised threat but this species is able to adapt to many different environments.

Penampilan

Tubuh bulu bervariasi dari abu-abu sampai merah, dengan bagian bawah berwarna lebih muda. Para kera sering memiliki lambang menunjuk terlihat pada kepala mana rambut tumbuh mundur. Wajah mereka merah muda. Jantan memiliki bulu pipi (cambang) dan kumis; Betina memiliki jenggot. Juga dikenal sebagai 'monyet pemakan kepiting' (crab eating macaque). 

Ukuran

Jantan: 4.7 to 8.3 kg

Betina: 2.5 to 5.7 kg

Panjang kehidupan

37 tahun

Diet

Omnivora - buah memenuhi 64% dari makanan mereka, serta biji, tunas, daun dan mangsa binatang (katak, serangga dan kepiting). Mereka mungkin juga serangan tanaman..

Jarak gerakan

25 to 200 ha.

Habitat

Sangat mudah beradaptasi dengan berbagai habitat termasuk rawa bakau dan hutan, mereka juga dapat ditemukan di daerah pertanian dekat pertumbuhan sekunder, hutan sekunder dan hutan primer. Telah dilaporkan di ketinggian sampai 1.000 m di Sumatera.

Distribusi

Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India (Nicobar Islands), Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

Perilaku dan Ekologi

Diurnal dan semi-terestrial. Mereka adalah perenang yang baik dan akan melompat ke dalam air dari pohon di dekatnya. Mereka tinggal dalam kelompok multi-jantan/multi-betina dan terdiri dari 10 sampai 100 ekor.

Status IUCN Red List

Least Concern (sedikit perhatian)

Tren Populasi

Penurunan

Ancaman

Di banyak rentang spesies ini, ancaman utama adalah berburu. Di Asia Tenggara, betina dibawa ke fasilitas pembibitan dan jantan sering diekspor internasional untuk digunakan dalam penelitian laboratorium. Hilangnya habitat merupakan ancaman lokal tetapi spesies ini mampu beradaptasi dengan lingkungan yang berbeda.

Greater Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang)

Greater Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang)

Appearance

The ongoing taxonomic research may reveal the existence of two species of Slow Loris in Sumatra. The one found in Gunung Leuser National Park has a bright reddish brown colour, including the dorsal stripe and facial markings. It also presents rounded forks above the eyes with pronounced dorsal stripes extending down to a more reddish belly.

Size

600 to 800g.

Life Span

20 years

Diet

Slow Lorises are fruit-eaters but also feed on insects, leaves and birds eggs. Another ket resource for them is nectar from the flowers of the burtram palm.

Home Range

Studies have shown that great variation, ranging from 2 to 18 ha. Surveys in Sumatra have found this species to occur at very low densities.

Habitat

Primary and secondary lowland forest, and can be found in gardens and plantations.

Distribution 

This species occurs in Indonesia (Sumatra, Batam and Bunguran in the North Natuna Islands), Malaysia (on the Peninsula and the island of Tioman), southern peninsular Thailand (from the Isthmus of Kra southward), and Singapore.

Behaviour and Ecology

Nocturnal and arboreal

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable

Population trend

Decreasing

Threats

The species is collected for use as pets, and the animals are sold throughout South East Asia. The teeth are often pulled, resulting in infection and/or death. If animals survive, lack of teeth makes reintroduction impossible. Sumatran populations are particularly impacted by the pet trade. There is little information available to other threats to thsi species. It is relatively adaptable to anthropogenic habitats, and so it might be less affected by forest loss than some other primate species. Nevertheless, forest loss has been so severe in the region that it is likely to have had some negative impacts. 

Animals are shot as crop pests and for other reasons. The species is protected by law in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

 Penampilan

Penelitian taksonomi yang sedang berlangsung dapat mengungkapkan adanya dua jenis Slow Loris di Sumatera. Yang ditemukan di Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser memiliki warna coklat kemerahan cerah, termasuk tanda-tanda garis punggung dan muka. Ada juga bentuk garpu bulat di atas mata dengan garis-garis punggung memperpanjang ke bawah ke perut lebih kemerahan.

Ukuran

600-800g.

Life Span

20 tahun

Diet

Slow Loris (Kukang) adalah pemakan buah, tetapi juga memakan serangga, daun dan telur burung. Sumber lain bagi mereka adalah nektar dari bunga-bunga telapak burtram.

Jarak gerakan

Studi telah menunjukkan bahwa variasi yang besar, mulai dari 2 sampai 18 ha. Survei di Sumatera telah menemukan spesies ini terjadi pada kepadatan sangat rendah. 

Habitat

Hutan primer dan hutan dataran rendah sekunder, dan dapat ditemukan di kebun dan perkebunan.

Distribusi

Spesies ini berada di Indonesia (Sumatera, Batam dan Bunguran di utara Kepulauan Natuna), Malaysia (di Semenanjung dan pulau Tioman), Semenanjung Thailand selatan (dari Tanah Genting Kra selatan), dan Singapura. 

Perilaku dan Ekologi

Nokturnal dan arboreal

Status IUCN Red List

Rentan

Tren Populasi

Penurunan

Ancaman

Spesies ini dikumpulkan untuk digunakan sebagai hewan peliharaan, dan sering dijual di seluruh Asia Tenggara. Gigi sering ditarik, mengakibatkan kematian atau infeksi. Jika hewan bertahan hidup, kurangnya gigi membuat reintroduksi mustahil. Populasi di Sumatera sangat dipengaruhi oleh perdagangan hewan peliharaan. Ada sedikit informasi yang tersedia tentang ancaman lain terhadap spesies ini. Hal ini relatif mudah beradaptasi dengan habitat antropogenik, dan jadi mungkin tidak terlalu terpengaruh oleh hilangnya hutan dari beberapa jenis primata lainnya. Namun demikian, hilangnya hutan telah begitu parah di wilayah yang ia cenderung untuk memiliki beberapa dampak negatif. 

Text adapted from Guidebook to Gunung Leuser National Park by UNESCO 

and Nekaris, A. & Streicher, U. 2008, 'Nycticebus coucang'

The Utterly Indifferent

There's only one thing worse than sell-outs like Patrick Moore and that is people who have given up. They are intelligent, hard-working and socially adjusted members of the community who have simply given up on the idea of saving the environment. 

A friend of mine said the same thing very recently; he stated that there's no way destruction and exploitation in this country, Indonesia, can be averted, it is a "way of life" and it "can't be stopped." When I protested, pointing out that he often takes trips out of the city into the jungles of Sumatra, very much enjoying the environment, I suggested his attitude was very much 'last chance to see' he agreed it was, and that's why he goes there; to see it before it is gone.

In my mind it is impossibly selfish to think like that. For me the worst thing is not even that my children will never see wild apes, exotic birds or old-growth forest, or that creatures such as the Orang Utan will no longer live in the wild, or even that such damage adversely affects the planet. It is that we will have caused the unnecessary destruction of such amazing and diverse creation for our own needs and none of it will ever be seen again.

I, for one, will not sit on the fence and watch that happen.