KBRN, Jakarta: The Indonesian Primate Day is celebrated on January 30 every year and the year 2025 is the 12th anniversary of Indonesian Primate Day.

According to KBBI, primates are mammals that have relatively large brains and stereoscopic vision, such as orangutans and macaques. Some primates are classified as rare animals that are threatened with extinction.

As quoted by rri.co.id from the Indonesian Forestry Ministry Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation Directorate General's website, the establishment of Indonesian Primate Day on January 30th was initiated by Protection of Forest & Fauna (ProFauna) in 2014. ProFauna is an organization engaged in the protection of wildlife and forests in Indonesia.

This commemoration is a form of concern for the illegal trade and poaching of primates that has increased in 2013. The date was chosen based on the “Primate Freedom Tour” campaign held around Java and Bali in 2011.

The government also officially protects 37 Indonesia's native primate species. These species include those from the family of Pongidae (Great Apes), Hylobatidae (Small Apes), Cercopithecidae (Old World Monkeys), Lemuridae (Lemurs), Tarsiidae (Tarsiers), and Lorisidae (Loris).

The Indonesia Primate Day is celebrated annually by various organizations and animal-watching communities, with the aim of educating the public about the importance of protecting Indonesian primates. This is also an effort to reduce the rate of extinction of Indonesian primates due to habitat destruction and hunting activities. ***