RRI.CO.ID, Kota Batu - Management at Batu Secret Zoo, located within Jatim Park 2, Malang Regency, East Java, is closely monitoring the development of a proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) born on January 30, 2026. This birth marks a significant achievement for the zoo's conservation program, representing the eighth successful birth of the species within the last four years.

Batu Secret Zoo veterinarian Hana Mitsuki reported on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, that the medical team is providing routine specialized intake, including vitamins and food supplements, to support the infant's growth.

"The birth process was smooth, and we are currently providing special supervision while minimizing intervention, as these animals have very high stress levels," Hana explained, as quoted by Antara.

Breeding proboscis monkeys in Batu is a complex task due to the stark contrast between the species' natural habitat and the local climate. To address temperature regulation, the zoo has installed air heaters in the enclosures and provided dedicated sunbathing areas, compensating for the fact that these monkeys naturally thrive in hot, coastal mangroves rather than Kota Batu’s cool, highland environment.

The facility also promotes natural behavior by featuring a water pool in the enclosure, which allows the monkeys to engage in swimming, an activity vital to their overall well-being. Furthermore, caretakers ensure a specialized diet through specific adjustments to the animals' food, including the provision of mangrove plants to closely mirror their wild nutritional sources.

The sex of the 2.5-month-old infant has not yet been determined, as the baby remains constantly cradled by its mother, a behavior typical for the first three to five months of life. With this new addition, the total collection of proboscis monkeys at Batu Secret Zoo now stands at 10 individuals.

Hana noted that the success of the breeding program is a strong indicator that the primates have successfully adapted to their modified environment. This milestone reinforces the zoo’s role in preserving Indonesian endemic species that are often difficult to maintain in captivity outside of their native tropical latitudes.

To support the infant’s development, the veterinary team provides specialized nutritional support through vitamins and food supplements while carefully avoiding over-intervention to manage the animals' high stress levels.

The facility has also implemented climate control measures, such as air heaters and sunbathing zones, to bridge the gap between Batu’s cool weather and the monkey’s native coastal heat.

Furthermore, the enclosure is designed to encourage natural behaviors by including swimming pools and a diet that features authentic mangrove vegetation. These habitat-mirroring techniques have proven successful, as evidenced by the consistent breeding and high adaptation rates of the proboscis monkey colony at the zoo. ***