TANGKOKO RESERVE

MACACA NIGRA PROJECT ANNUAL REPORT 2016

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CONTENTS

DEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS __________________________________________________ 1

INTRODUCTION ___________________________________________________________________ 2

RESEARCH CONDUCTED ___________________________________________________________ 3

PUBLICATIONS ____________________________________________________________________ 6

EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION ____________________________________________________ 8

MANADO CONSERVATION FESTIVAL ________________________________________________ 14

ACTIVE PROTECTION OF THE MACAQUES IN TANGKOKO ______________________________ 16

10 YEARS MNP ___________________________________________________________________ 17

MEDIA COVERAGE ________________________________________________________________ 18

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF MNP ___________________________________________________ 19

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF TCE ___________________________________________________ 21

CONTACT INFORMATION __________________________________________________________ 23

LINKS AND ABBREVIATIONS OF NAMES ______________________________________________ 24

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DEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS

A warm welcome to all of you to our new yearly report. It has been an important and busy year as we have

celebrated a special anniversary: 10 years of the Macaca Nigra Project (MNP). When we started out ten years

ago as a little research project, we did not imagine growing into such a big and sustained programme. Right

now, we can proudly look back at a lot of small and big research projects, 16 international publications and more

than five years of education & conservation programme.

Another important event this year was the transition of MNP from the German Primate Centre (DPZ) in

Göttingen, Germany, to the Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), in Liverpool, England, where I was hired

as Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in Primate Behaviour and Conservation. The transition between

institutions is always challenging for a project with so many local and international ties. Fortunately, the support

within Indonesia from the Agricultural Institute of Bogor through my co- heads Dr. Muhammad Agil and Dr. Dyah

Perwitasari-Farajallah is stronger than ever. In addition, as a sign of appreciation, Prof Dr Andy Tattersall,

Director of the School of Natural Sciences and Psychology at LJMU, participated in our celebrations for the 10th

anniversary! Thus, we hope all projects to continue without disruption and we are looking forward to new

successful collaborations!

Gholib in the forest

I would like to also mention another important development:

our friend, colleague and MNP Team member Gholib has been

offered and accepted a permanent position at the University

Syiah Kuala (UNSYIAH) in Banda Aceh. This is a big success,

for him personally, but also for us as a project because one of

our goals, the increase of scientific and technological

knowledge within Indonesia, has been reached. Gholib has

been with us since the very beginning of MNP. Not only did he

help us building MNP up, he also gained ample experience in

the field during his MSc and PhD studies with us. In addition,

Gholib several times received training in the Germany lab.

Now, he will be able to educate his own students and team in

the expertise he has during the time with us.

Congratulations Gholib! We are very proud of you!

So, enjoy reading about the recent developments within the Macaca Nigra Project in this exciting year, about

our latest achievements in our scientific, conservation education and development efforts, as well as about our

ideas for the future.

DR. ANTJE ENGELHARDT, founder and head of MNP

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INTRODUCTION

As a start for the coming line of reports, and in light of our special anniversary, we would like to provide you with

a small summary of Macaca Nigra Project (MNP) history. MNP was founded in 2006 by Dr Antje Engelhardt as

a collaborative postdoctoral project between the German Primate Centre (DPZ), the Indonesian Bogor

Agricultural University (IPB) and the University Sam Ratulangi (UNSRAT), North Sulawesi, Indonesia. In 2008,

the first PhD students started their studies within MNP and in 2012, we signed our MoU with the Department

for the Conservation of Natural Resources of North Sulawesi, which gave us the status of a long-term project.

At around the same time, in 2010, a conservation education project started calling itself the Tangkoko

Conservation Education Programme (TCE), which built a lot of its teaching around the crested macaques and

the forest of Tangkoko. From the start, there was a lot of friendly exchange and mutual support between MNP

and TCE, and in 2014, TCE and MNP decided to join forces and TCE became MNP’s education branch. This

year, 2016, has thus been the 10th anniversary for the project. In all those previous years, countless researchers,

students, student assistants and interns have joined the project leading to what it is now, an internationally

renowned project standing on three pillars: research, education and development through knowledge and

technology transfer. From this year onwards, the German Primate Center will be replaced by Liverpool John

Moores University (LJMU).

MNP’s research station is based in the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, on the

northern tip of the island Sulawesi, near a village (3km) named Batuh Putih.

With the adjacent reserve Dua Sudara, Tangkoko is home to the biggest

extent population of crested macaques still existing in the area. Crested

macaques are in danger of extinction within the next human generation (20

years, IUCN classification as critically endangered) if nothing is done to

protect them and assure their survival. The density of macaques in

Tangkoko has been estimated as 45 individuals / km2, which is a reduction

by 35% from the last published survey in 1994, which had already detected

a decrease in population from 76.2 to 68.7 individuals / km2 compared to

1989.

The MNP project is thus fundamental at all levels: 1/ scientific research to increase knowledge about the

macaques and their environment, 2/ education to empower local scientists and citizens to manage their own

environmental and science programmes, and 3/ conservation to empower local populations and help them

protect their environment while providing sustainable livelihood through eco-tourism, expert fauna-flora guiding,

nature ranger activities and sustainable economic activities. In the following, we will detail out what we have

done more specifically in 2016.

“TANGKOKO IS HOME

TO THE BIGGEST EXTENT

POPULATION OF CRESTED

MACAQUES STILL

EXISTING

ITS ORIGINAL

DISTRIBUTION RANGE”

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RESEARCH CONDUCTED

In 2016, MNP has welcomed 16 students and volunteers from five different universities, both Indonesian and

international. Initially, MNP research focused on the reproductive biology of the macaques, a very important

part of their whole biology as reproduction conditions fitness, survival, and health of individuals and ultimately,

populations. This still forms the basic research activities of the project in the form of basic data on demography

(birth and death/disappearance), female oestrus cycles, male-male competition, and physiological data

(hormone analysis from faecal matter). In addition, numerous projects have been conducted on female social

behaviour, male personality, male migration, male-infant relationships, male invasively and with least possible

impact on the individuals. Since we are always welcoming researchers from all over the world, we had a number

of projects going on in 2016 that were carried out by students from partner universities. A summary of all projects

running in 2016 is given below.

Social determinants of physiological stress and health in wild crested macaques,

postdoc Dr Céline Bret (LJMU) and PhD student Dermawan Saputra (IPB)

The quality and quantity of social relationships influences

the individual risk of mortality in humans and animals

alike. The buffering effect social relationships may have

on acute and chronic stressors have been particularly

invoked in this respect. Chronically elevated

glucocorticoid levels have been shown to suppress the

immune system and, thus, to increase susceptibility to

parasites and disease, and thereby mortality in a variety

of taxa.

Furthermore, more recent studies on personality suggest that certain personality traits also impact individual

immune response and healthiness. In our study, we therefore aim at investigating this relationship in a wild

population of a highly tolerant primate species, the crested macaque. The study is carried out by combining

detailed analysis of behavioural data, including social network analysis, with data on physiological stress, and

from a set of non-invasively collected health markers.

Factors influencing incomplete male monopolization of females in crested macaques,

postdoc Dr Lisa Danish (DPZ) and MSc student Andre Peseta (IPB)

Among the mammals, human and nonhuman primates are

unusual in the degree of variation in male ability to

monopolize sexual access to females. Recent data from a

number of primate taxa, however, reveal the substantial

variation in male reproductive skew. Since male

reproductive skew varies, high ranking males are not

always able to completely monopolize paternity.

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Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain this incomplete monopolization. Those we test tested by

integrating behavioural, genetic, and physiological data include: 1) functional costs and tradeoffs; 2) female

strategies; 3) alternative male mating strategies; and 4) the concession model.

The stress factor: Examining anthropogenic sources of stress in wild Macaca nigra,

PhD student Dominique Bertrand, University of Buffalo, USA and Uni Sutiah,

University Gadja Mada, Indonesia

Ecotourism sites are often buttressed against villages.

This proximity can cause conflict between human and

animal populations. Primate conservation status is often

used as an indicator of the overall health of resident

ecosystems. As such, it is important to understand the

factors, both natural and anthropogenic, that contribute

to poor primate fitness in the wild.

In order to explore these factors, in our study, we therefore examine two anthropogenic influences (tourism and

range restriction) on stress-related behaviour and physiology of M. nigra in Tangkoko. Specifically, our aim is

to pinpoint which aspects of anthropogenic disturbances are most stressful in order to recommend management

adjustments that will bring Tangkoko in closer alignment with its conservation goals.

Intergroup interactions in crested macaques, PhD student Laura Martinez Inigo,

Lincoln University, UK and BSc student Rismayanti (IPB)

Intergroup interactions are key aspects of primate social

life. They can determine space usage and access to

resources. This, in turn, can have enormous impacts on

intragroup dynamics such as behaviour and

demography. Despite their importance, intergroup

interactions are one of the least studied parts of primate

socio-ecology. This project aims to address the topic in

an integrative manner investigating the questions:

Do groups avoid encountering each other? If so, what mechanisms do they use? What factors explain whether

an individual participates in an intergroup conflict? Do intergroup encounters alter the behavioural patterns

within the groups? Is there intergroup dominance? If so, what factors determine it and what are the

consequences? These questions are explored by studying neighbouring groups. Data collection will involve

behavioural observations, spatial data collection and non-invasive sample collection for DNA analyses.

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“Our aim is to pinpoint which aspects of anthropogenic disturbances are most

stressful to bring Tangkoko in closer alignment with its conservation goals”

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Effect of competition on male coalition patterns in crested macaques, PhD student

Maura Tyrrell, Univ. of Buffalo, USA and MSc student Try Sutrisno, Manado State Univ.

Competition between groups of related and

unrelated males plays a large role in the political

structure of early humans. However, current

theoretical explanations of male coalitions in

nonhuman primates focus primarily on mate

competition within the group and seldom

consider the influence of competition between

groups. With this study we hope to create a

clearer picture of social relationships in crested

macaques by incorporating between-group and within-group competitive contexts into my examination of

coalition and relationship qualities. We want to know if competitive context of coalitions (i.e. whether coalitions

are directed towards a resident or male or an immigrating male/outside male in a neighbouring group) varies

with behaviours proposed to manage conflicts between individuals (i.e. “reconciling” after a fight, signalling

friendly intentions, ritualized “greetings”). Additionally, does coalition partner choice in each context reflect

differentiated patterns of affiliation, or is it primarily opportunistic?

New method for collecting saliva non-invasively in wild macaques

In addition to the above studies, we would like to draw your attention to a new non-invasive technique we have

developed to collect saliva samples from the animals we observe, e.g. for later cortisol level measurements.

This new technique opens up new opportunities for us regarding the measurement of hormones, enzymes and

other parameters only measurable in saliva. How we do it is pretty easy: we soak a swab specifically designed

for taking up saliva for analyses in black current syrup. We then throw the swab into the forest close to an

individual. The tricky but important part is to throw it in a way that the animal does not see where it came from,

but still takes notice of it. In most cases, the macaque then takes the swab up ad into its mouth and sucks the

syrup out of it. During that period, the swab gets soaked with the animal’s saliva. Once the good taste is gone,

the monkey usually spits the swab out again. Now it is important that no other individual gets interested in the

swab before we are able to retrieve it, because we want a pure sample from one individual. Well, sometimes it

works, sometimes we are unlucky, but most important is that we do not disturb the animals with this procedure

and at least quite often are successful with it. Just as a side-note: we have tested a number of different syrups

but black current seems to be favoured by the macaques .

Swab soaked in syrup Nihil chewing on a swab Spat out swab on the forest floor

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PUBLICATIONS

2016

Scientific peer-reviewed articles

Marty, P. R., Hodges, K., Agil, M., & Engelhardt, A. (2016). Determinants of immigration strategies in male

crested macaques (Macaca nigra). Scientific reports 6: 32028.

Kerhoas, D., Kulik, L., Perwitasari-Farajallah, D., Agil, M., Engelhardt, A., & Widdig, A. (2016). Mother-male

bond, but not paternity, influences male-infant affiliation in wild crested macaques. Behavioral Ecology and

Sociobiology 70: 1117-1130.

Activity reports

Chanvin, M. 2016 “Tangkoko Conservation Education, conservation education programme for the local

communities of North Sulawesi”.

Previous publications (peer-reviewed full articles only):

2015

Higham, JP.; Kraus, C.; Stahl-Hennig, C.; Engelhardt, A.; Fuchs, D.; Heistermann, M. (2015): Evaluating non-invasive markers of non-human primate immune activation. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 158: 673-684.

Danish, LM.; Heistermann M.; Agil, M,; Engelhardt, A. (2015): Validation of a novel collection device for non-invasive urine sampling from free-ranging animals. Plos One 10: e0142051.

Micheletta, J.; Whitehouse, J.; Parr, L.A.; Marshman, P.; Engelhardt, A.; Waller, B.M. (2015): Familiar and unfamiliar face recognition in crested macaques (Macaca nigra). Royal Society Open Science. 2 :150109.

2014

Kerhoas, D.; Perwitasari-Farajallah, D.; Agil, M.; Widdig, A.; Engelhardt, A. (2014): Social and ecological factors influencing offspring survival in wild macaques. Behavioral Ecology 25: 1164-1172.

Duboscq, J.; Agil, M.; Engelhardt, A. ; Thierry, B. (2014): The function of post-conflict interactions: new prospects from the study of a tolerant species of primate. Animal Behaviour 87: 107-120.

2013

Neumann, C; Agil, M.; Widdig, A.; Engelhardt, A.; (2013): Personality, of wild male crested Macaques (Macaca nigra), PLoS One, 8: e69383.

Micheletta, J.; Engelhardt, A.; Matthews, L.; Agil, M.; Waller, B.M.; (2013): Multicomponent and multimodal lipsmacking in crested macaques (Macaca nigra), American Journal of Primatology, 75:763-73.

Duboscq, J.; Micheletta, J.; Agil, M.; Hodges, JK.; Thierry, B.; Engelhardt, A. (2013): Social tolerance in wild female crested macaques, Macaca nigra in Tangkoko-Batuangus Nature Reserve, Sulawesi, Indonesia, American Journal of Primatology 75: 361-75.

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2012

Micheletta, J.; Waller, B.M.; Panggur, M.R.; Neumann C.; Duboscq J.; Agil, M.; Engelhardt, A. (2012): Social bonds affect anti-predator behaviour in a tolerant species of macaque, Macaca nigra, Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B-Biological Science 279: 4042-4050.

Higham, J.P.; Heistermann, M.; Saggau, C.; Agil, M.; Perwitasari‐Farajallah, D.; Engelhardt, A.: Sexual signalling in female crested macaques and the evolution of primate fertility signals, BMC Evolutionary Biology 12: 89.

Palacios, J.F.G.; Engelhardt, A.; Agil, M.; Hodges, J.K.; Bogia, R.; Waltert, M. (2012): Status of, and conservation recommendations for, the Critically Endangered crested black macaque Macaca nigra in Tangkoko, Indonesia, Oryx 46: 290-297.

2011

Neumann, C.; Duboscq, J.; Dubuc, C.; Ginting, A.; Irwan, A.M.; Agil, M., Widdig, A.; Engelhardt, A. (2011): Assessing dominance hierarchies: validation and advantages of progressive evaluation with Elo rating, Animal Behaviour 82: 911-921.

2010

Neumann, C.; Assahad, G.; Hammerschmidt, K.; Farajallah, D.P.; Engelhardt, A. (2010): Loud calls in male Macaca nigra – a signal of dominance in a tolerant primate species, Animal Behaviour 79: 187-193.

2009

Duboscq, J.; Neumann, C.; Perwitasari-Farajallah, D.; Engelhardt, A. (2008): Daytime birth of a baby crested black macaque (Macaca nigra) in the wild, Behavioural Processes 79: 81–84.

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EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION

Tangkoko Conservation Education (TCE) School activities in the school year 2015/16

This year, TCE had the opportunity to strengthen its educational programme on a local level by establishing a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the local government of Bitung. This great achievement, the first of

its kind in North Sulawesi, means that the local government is officially supporting environmental education

activities in the schools participating in TCE’s programme. It also means that the local government encourages

teachers to include our environmental lessons into the school curriculum. The Head of Education and Culture

of Bitung City, Pak Ferdinand Tangkudung, warmly welcomed the TCE program during a meeting held for

Bitung’s school head teachers on the 3rd of July 2015:

''Environmental education is very important for us to include

it in all schools, at the elementary and secondary level. We

have wildlife that do not exist anywhere else in the world and

they are threatened with extinction''. This MoU is a great

opportunity to support conservation education activities in the area!

This school year, we have delivered environmental lessons for 23 schools from 12 villages, reaching 592

elementary / junior high school / senior high school students. Six new schools joined the programme: SDN

Inpres Girian (Bitung), SMK Bahari (Bitung), SD GMIM Makawidey, SMP Christian Eklesia Makawidey (Bitung),

SMK 1 Airmadidi and SDN 2 Airmadidi (North Minahasa). These developments were warmly greeted by the

Education Departments of each region, who issued letters of recommendation.

TCE’s educational methods consist in bimonthly school interventions, which are implemented over a period of

9 months in each school (one class at a time). Part of this is a field trip into the Tangkoko forest for the pupils

to learn about crested macaques and other wildlife in their natural environment. Each lesson delivered focuses

on a specific theme, which helps to build up pupils’ knowledge as well as to increase positive attitude towards

their local environment. These lessons are:

- Lesson 1: Environmental basics and changes over the environment;

- Lesson 2: Biodiversity of tropical rainforest;

- Lesson 3: Flora and fauna of Indonesia, Sulawesi, and the forests around us;

- Lesson 4: Primates, the crested macaques and the Macaca Nigra Project;

- Lesson 5: Trip to Tangkoko, observation of the crested macaques

- Lesson 6: Characteristics of protected areas, status of and threats on Indonesian

protected wildlife and conservation actions;

- Lesson 7: Coastal and marine ecosystem

“WE HAVE WILDLIFE THAT DO NOT

EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE

WORLD AND THEY ARE

THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION”

Trip into the Tangkoko forest: Observing crested macaques and learning about local flora together with MNP staff.

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These interventions are delivered with the support of our local partners:

- The local eco-guides accompany pupils on field trips into the Tangkoko reserve.

- Members of the Macaca Nigra Project provide interventions about the crested macaque and accompany

pupils on field trips into the reserve.

- The staff from Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue and Education Centre (http://www.tasikoki.org/) comes to

schools to present the objectives and missions of Tasikoki, and to tell about the threatened species of

Indonesia and their protection.

To implement the lessons, we provide each coordinator, volunteer, pupil and teacher with educational material

which includes the seven environmental lessons together with original illustrations created by a scientific

illustrator. The most important outcome of the official agreement with the ministry of Education in Bitung is that

our environmental lessons will be integrated into the local curriculum. Thus, during the 2015−2016 school

period, we have started to design our 7 environmental lessons into a formal syllabus (usually used by school

teachers as part of their curriculum). We hope that for the 2016−2017 school period, some schools will deliver

our TCE lessons as their own parts in the biology courses.

Lessons in class: Learning with TCE and MNP staff through

games and booklets.

“THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTCOME FROM THE OFFICIAL AGREEMENT WITH THE

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IN BITUNG IS THAT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS

WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO THE LOCAL CURRICULUM”

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SCHOOLS AND VILLAGES INVOLVED DURING THE 2015-2016 PERIOD

Villages around the city of Bitung: Batu Putih:

- SD GMIM primary school - SD INPRES 12/79 primary school - SD INPRES 4/82 primary school - SMP 8 Bitung junior high school - SMK Negeri 4 senior high school

Pinangunian: - SD GMIM primary school - SD INPRES 5/81 primary school - SMP Negeri 14 SATAP Bitung high school

Winenet: - SMP Negeri 7 Bitung high school

Kasawari: - SD Nasional Kasawari primary school - SD GMIM Kasawari primary school

Sagerat: - SD Negeri Sagerat primary school

Duasudara: - SD GMIM 5 Duasudara primary school

Danowudu: - SD GMIM 6 Danowudu primary school

Makawidey: - SMP Kristen Eklesia Makawidey junior high

school - SD GMIM Makawidey primary school

Bitung: - SMK Pelita Bahari senior high school

Girian: - SDN primary school

Kasawari

Winenet

Sagerat

Municipality of Manado area: Tuminting:

- SD NASIONAL 48 primary school

North Minahasa area: Airmadidi:

- SMK 1 senior high school - SDN 2 primary school

Schools from Manado and North Minahasa involved in our activities

Map of Bitung area showing the villages in which we have been active (black circles).

Schools around Bitung involved in our activities

Map of North Sulawesi showing the areas in which we have been active (black circlers and red square).

Copyright: Mike Smith - Divex Indonesia.

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Tangkoko Conservation Education teacher training and awareness campaigns

TRAINING FOR TEACHERS

Tangkoko Conservation Education implemented its 2nd training for teachers for the 2015−2016 school year. Our

training began with a trip to the Tangkoko forest on the 1st July, where we invited the staff of the Education

Department to join, together with head teachers of school part of TCE programme. It was the first visit to

Tangkoko for Pak Tangkudung, Head of Bitung’s Education Department.

During the visit, we received the support of the Macaca Nigra Project staff and local guides, who gave

information about the local flora and fauna. Stephan from MNP also explained the lesson about macaques that

we deliver to students. After the visit, Pak Tangkudung, together with the TCE team, presented the MoU draft

to the head teachers and how it will help conservation education activities to be included in the curriculum of

Bitung schools.

On the 29th July, the TCE team presented the 6 lesson materials to the teachers in Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue

and Education Centre, in collaboration with the staff of the Education Department of Bitung, the Macaca Nigra

Project, Tasikoki Centre and Selamatkan Yaki. Like last year, the participants had the opportunity to visit the

Tasikoki Centre to get introduced to the issues of wildlife trade in North Sulawesi.

On the 30th July, the teachers who could not attend the first training day went in the

Tangkoko forest to observe the macaques. Some teachers of other regions of

Sulawesi took part in this training (Gorontalo and Minahasa Induk region), as a future

possibility to expand the TCE programme in these regions.

Training for teachers plays now an important part in our programme. We hope,

thanks to these activities, that the teachers are able to integrate our lessons into

their classes on a daily basis and also bring their own contributions to our materials

and adopt them to the local curriculum.

Training for teachers: Nona explaining about the lesson 3 (Indonesian flora and fauna) to teachers at

Tasikoki.

Group picture

“TRAINING FOR

TEACHERS PLAYS

NOW AN IMPORTANT

PART IN OUR

PROGRAMME"

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INDONESIAN PRIMATE DAY AND TCE’S 5TH BIRTHDAY

On the 30th January, we celebrated both the Indonesian Primate Day and TCE’s 5th Birthday. For this special

day, we set up an exhibition about local wildlife and TCE’s actvities in the Education Department of Bitung

(together with the exhibition of Selamatkan Yaki about crested macaques). Then we invited the local

communities and all our partners to be part of a day full of surprises: Concert from volunteers, testimonies from

the local government, partners and young people part of our programme, movie screening, and even birthday

cakes to share with former and current TCE’s staff.

END OF YEAR CELEBRATION

Together with our partners, we organised a conservation awareness campaign in Tasikoki Rescue Centre for

the local communities on the 25th May 2016. We hosted 200 pupils from TCE schools, their parents, as well as

our partners (around 30 people involved from 10 organisations). Pupils shared the conservation knowledge

acquired during our activities to a wider audience by using theatre, songs and drawing exhibition to sensitize

their parents and the local community. We organised several activities in parallel, such as a treasure hunt

themed around the environment, some outdoor games, a drawing contest and a concert.

ACT FOR CRESTED MACAQUES

In June and July, Regine Gross, MSc student in Primate Conservation at Oxford Brookes University (UK) has

joined TCE to implement her awareness campaigns for local communities with our help. These campaigns were

part of her research project, which was financially supported by Le Conservatoire pour la Protection des

Primates – Vallée des Singes.

This 2-month project (from May 25th until July 31st 2016), named Act for

Crested Macaques consisted of awareness campaigns for the local

population of North Sulawesi to help enhance understanding and

conservation of crested macaques. The events included several

conservation education tools: a movie screening about crested macaques

and participatory theatre about wildlife conservation.

“THIS 2-MONTH PROJECT

CONSISTED OF AWARENESS

CAMPAIGNS FOR THE LOCAL

POPULATION”

Group picture and games at Tasikoki

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Seven events were implemented between June and July 2016 in villages and

schools surrounding Tangkoko-Duasudara Nature Reserve: Madidir, Batuputih

Atas, Pinangunian, Dua Saudara, Makawidey, Manado and Airmadidi, for a

total of around 450 people from the local communities.

The project was implemented in collaboration with 20 volunteers from local

nature clubs (Tunas Hijau, Tikus Hutan), local artists (Jarank Pulang, Lamp of

Bottle), the Macaca Nigra Project and the Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue and

Education Centre. A report of the activities and research has been submitted to Le Conservatoire pour la

Protection des Primates – Vallée des Singes by Regine after the completion of her project. These pictures are

from her report:

“SEVEN EVENTS FOR A

TOTAL OF AROUND 450

PEOPLE FROM LOCAL

COMMUNITIES”

Act for Crested Macaque event: participatory theatre with the local communities

IN FOCUS: Maria Rosdalima Panggur, MSc

Research ranger at Komodo National Park When we interviewed Maria for a position as funded MSc student at MNP, I was particularly impressed about her story as a BSc student studying birds on Rinca Island, one of the two islands still hosting the Komodo dragon; how fearlessly she went out into the forest on her own, climbing trees when chased by a large Komodo dragon, whose poisonous bite can be deadly for humans. I immediately thought that this is the kind of dedication for science and nature that we need to foster here at MNP. Maria never disappointed us. She did her MSc at IPB with a brilliant thesis on the acoustic repertoire of crested macaques. For this, she received special training in Germany by Dr Kurt

Hammerschmidt, a renowned expert in animal acoustics. We were so pleased with her work that we offered her to continue with a PhD project at MNP. Maria however told us that her dream of life had always been to become a researcher in the Komodo National Park. Just a few weeks after, she passed the test and now lives her dream …

Maria with a juvenile Komodo dragon

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MANADO CONSERVATION FESTIVAL

For the first time, multiple stakeholders concerned with the environment in North Sulawesi conducted a joint

outreach activity to inform people in the capital Manado about their environment, the threats to it, good practice

and what the different organisations contribute to conservation, education and development. The event spread

over two full days and involved multiple stakeholders, governmental as well as non-governmental. In order to

reach as many people as possible, the Mega Mall, a very popular shopping mall in Manado, was chosen as

location.

General activities comprised entertainment on a stage all concerning

conservation and the environment. Two professional entertainers led

through the programme and did an awesome job! There were little

games and a drawing competition for children and a climbing wall

outside the mall to attract the teens and young adults. The rock band

that supports TCE also gave a concert with songs fitting the topic.

MNP and TCE had adjacent information stalls. A short presentation was repeatedly shown in order to inform

visitors about the macaques and their habitat. Equipment was presented to introduce people to the research

carried out and samples of traps and a poster was exhibited in order to elucidate the threats under which the

macaques are. To increase empathy for the animals, Steven Bee played a macaque on a lead, which visitors

could then release and take a picture with. He did a wonderful job as a macaque!

TCE presented the games produced for the kids and also some artwork around the macaques. A school class

was invited to present the theatre play as well as the traditional dance they had learned as part of the lessons

they received from TCE. The children as well as their teachers were very proud for being an active part of the

event.

The whole initiative was a big success and we believe to have reached about 2000 people. Given its success,

it has been suggested to repeat the festival as a yearly or bi-annual event. Please find below some impressions:

Advertising poster for the Manado Conservation festival in September 2016

“THE WHOLE INITIATIVE WAS A

BIG SUCCESS AND WE BELIEVE

TO HAVE REACHED ABOUT

2000 PEOPLE!”

15

Impressions from the Manado Conservation festival: MNP and PKT stands, exhibitions and activities

16

ACTIVE PROTECTION OF THE MACAQUES IN TANGKOKO

Albeit our continued presence in the forest, we still find traps and animals in those in Tangkoko. Most of the

traps are however not targeted at the macaques but at wild pigs and ground living birds. However, also these

traps form a big threat to the macaques as all snares form a big threat to the macaques. They tend to attach to

the limbs so tightly that the bloodstream gets interrupted. Once tight, the macaques

do not manage to re-open them again, but rather pull them tighter and tighter. As a

consequence, the extremity dies and falls off. Often the wound gets infected and the

animal dies a slow death. MNP staff regularly patrol the forest for detecting illegal

activities and destroying traps. In 2016, the team destroyed 64 traps, 7 bird traps

made out of nylon wire and 57 pig traps made out of thick ropes. Seven monkeys

were rescued out of those traps and/or caught by the team to free them from ropes

still attached to their limbs. We of course also free other wild animals from these

traps. Every animal taken by humans out of the environment is a disturbance to the environment’s equilibrium,

particularly in small forests, and hunting is therefore strictly forbidden in the Tangkoko reserve.

In one case, we were not able to catch a female to release her from the snare in time and she lost her right foot.

Luckily, her wound did not get infected and she survived, though being majorly handicapped from limping on

and climbing with three limbs only.

A macaque in Tangkoko caught in a pig trap

A macaque foot freshly released from its sling

Jabba, who lost her right foot due to a trap

“WE OF COURSE

ALSO FREE OTHER

WILD ANIMALS

FROM THESE

TRAPS”

17

10 YEARS MNP

In 2016, we had the exciting opportunity to celebrate the 10th anniversary of MNP. We have met and worked

with so many peoples in all those years and accordingly, we wanted to celebrate this jubilee with as many

friends as possible and on all levels. We thus organised a scientific symposium inviting our colleagues and

friends from all over the world as well as the authorities from Manado and Jakarta,

carried out a fun workshop for the villagers of Batu Putih and organised a big beach

party in camp for all our local friends that was supported by our friends from the local

rock band “Lamp of Bottle”. We were very happy for being able to welcome the

Director of the School for Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores

University, Prof Dr Andy Tattersall, the Deans from the Faculty of Veterinary

Medicine and the Faculty for Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Bogor Agricultural

University, Prof Dr Agus Setiyono and Prof Dr Sri Nurdiati as well as representatives

from the Department for Education, Bitung and the Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia. Among the scientific

speakers were current partners and students as well as former students who are now academics themselves.

The symposium speakers Gathering after the workshop in the village’s community centre

Beach party and games

“WE OF COURSE

ALSO FREE OTHER

WILD ANIMALS

FROM THESE

TRAPS”

18

MEDIA COVERAGE

The macaques and our project have been covered worldwide in the media multiple times, in the print media as

well as in documentaries. These are just some of the more prominent pieces:

YEAR MEDIUM SOURCE TITLE AUTHOR/PRODUCER

2012 Magazine National Geographic Indonesia

Makaka, the Sovereign of the Throne Titania Febrianti

2012 TV News RTL Nord Befreundete Primaten halten zusammen Jan-Sören Meyer

2012 Online news ScienceDaily Friends Help More Promptly, at Least in Monkeys

2012 Magazine GEOkompakt Nr. 33 Gemeinsam sind sie schlauer Henning Engeln

2013 Documentary Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK)

The macaque with the thousand faces

2014 Documentary BBC / Animal Planet / Science Channel Co-production

Wonders of the Moonson: Episode Strange castaways

Jonathan Clay, Kathryn Jeffs, Nick Lyon

2014 Documentary BBC/Natural World Meet The Monkeys Rob Sullivan

2015 Documentary Korean TV Title in Korean

In June 2016, Mathilde gave an interview to an Indonesian environmental website (Mongabay) to share our best

practices:http://www.mongabay.co.id/2016/06/29/mathilde-chanvin-mengubah-masa-depan-lewat-pendidikan-

konservasi/ Thanks to this article, several Indonesian teachers wrote to us in order to receive information and

to get to know how they could deliver our school interventions in their classrooms. We were specifically delighted

about the comment we received on our work from the Head of the Nature Resort Ruteng di Watu Nggong Matim

on Flores, Indonesia.

Translation:

An extraordinary thank you for Ms Mathilde Chanvin’s efforts to implement conservation

education in Indonesia. I wish you much success … Hopefully, the government will

respond positively to Mathilde Chanvin’s hopes, which is actually the hope of the whole

Indonesian nation, to have conservation education implemented into school curricula

through Mulok (muatan lokal, MNP’s note: a method in which new material shaped

according to regional needs and capabilities is integrated into the curriculum) … Ms

Mathilde Chanvin, thank you for your enthusiasm for conservation in Indonesia … I send

you extraordinary wishes for success … hail conservation … thank you for the knowledge

you bring to the young generation … may god be with you…

19

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF MNP

INTRODUCTION

The project permanently employs seven people: a research manager organising research, a liaison officer and

camp manager responsible for liaising with different authorities, linking research, outreach, education and

conservation, as well as managing human resources issues (salaries, health insurance, permits). We are also

very proud that our research assistants not only collect biological and behavioural data on the 5 groups of

monkeys that are habituated for research, but are also heavily involved in outreach, education, conservation,

and eco-tourism. One of them is specifically dedicated to patrolling the forest, linking with the rangers and

mitigating issues between people living around the nature reserve and the monkeys. They make the very

essential link to the local community. In addition, a cook and a janitor take care of the camp daily maintenance.

All staff are Indonesian and the majority are members of nearby villages where they also represent the project

and our ethical views. Staff receive a monthly salary as well as a health and risk insurance. All staff members

apart from the cook need to obtain and pay for a permit before accessing the nature reserve.

In principle, revenues come from two sources. Foreign researchers and

students (PIs) pay a fee for food and lodging at the station and to use the

facilities. In 2016, the fee was 200€ per person per month. Fees are also paid

for the Indonesian student counterpart and any non-Indonesian assistant

brought in by a PI. We encourage PI’s to afford Indonesian counterparts their

study fees where possible, but these payments are done by the PI directly to the

specific student so are not listed here. The second source comes from grants

obtained by the MNP head. This year, we had however some additional private

contributions to help fund MNP’s anniversary celebration.

REVENUES

Sources Euro

Fees 16,800

MNP research grants 31,958

Private contributions 4,000

Total 52,758

“WE ENCOURAGE PI’S

TO AFFORD

INDONESIAN

COUNTERPARTS THEIR

STUDY FEES WHERE

POSSIBLE”

20

EXPENSES

Items Expense allocation Euro

Research manager Research organization, data collection and analysis, reports 4,814

Liaison manager Conservation education, liaison with villagers and authorities, staff and station management, outreach

4,835

Research assistant 1 Research database 3,941

Research assistant 2 Research database 3,809

Research assistant 3 Research database 2,927

Conservation assistant Patrols, reporting to rangers, mitigation with villagers 2,927

Research assistant/ Janitor

Research support, camp maintenance 2,461

Cook Cooking 3,193

Staff insurance Mandatory as per Indonesian laws 2,637

Camp maintenance Miscellaneous costs for camp maintenance 3,430

Camp logistic Miscellaneous costs for camp equipment, power supply, communication, transportation

5,293

Staff permits For access to the nature reserve 2,000

MNP Anniversary celebration

Symposium, workshop, party 10,491

Total

52,758

21

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF TCE

INTRODUCTION

As of now, the Education-Conservation part of the Macaca Nigra Project conducts its own budgeting. TCE

employs one full-time programme coordinator and three part-time programme assistants, all Indonesians from

North Sulawesi. A lot of additional support stems from local volunteers. Revenues come from three principal

sources, support from zoos, donations from private individuals and grants obtained by the head and co-heads

of the project.

REVENUES

Sources Euro

French Association of Zoos (AfdPZ) 2,000

Chester Zoo 4,817

Vivarium Darmstadt 1,100

Amien Zoo 1,500

Primate Education Network 225

ECOCO Foundation 330

Rufford Small Grant 4,725

Private donations and crowdfunding 3,703

Total 18,400

22

EXPENSES

Items Expense allocation Euro

Coordinators 2 coordinators (part time) 4,629

Guide fees Local guides’ fees for school trips to Tangkoko and for teachers’ training

223

Transportation 1 Car rental, motorbike rental and gasoline for coordinators’ and volunteers’ transportation (meetings, education interventions in the villages, events and trainings)

3,465

Transportation 2 Bus rental for pupils’ transportation to Tangkoko reserve 691

Transportation 3 Bus rental for teachers’ transportations to Tasikoki and Tangkoko reserve (teachers’ training)

268

Transportation 4 Bus rental for participants’ transportation for the end of year celebration event

672

Food Food for the 2 local coordinators when outside headquarter and for participants during various events (training, end-of-the-year celebration)

1,750

Pedagogical material

Stationaries: books, games, pens, paper, notebooks, photocopies 619

Education booklet’s printing

Creation, edition and printing of the education booklet 4,643

Communication Post, internet and phone expenses 267

Promotion action Panels, posters, stickers 272

Office Office rental, electricity, furniture and equipment 536

Festival cost tent rental, information stands, photo exhibition 365

Total 18,400

23

CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Antje Engelhardt

Head of the project

School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, LJMU

A.Engelhardt@ljmu.ac.uk

Dr. Muhammad Agil

Co-Head of the project

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB

rhinogil@indo.net.id

Mathilde Chanvin, MSc

Head of TCE

MSc, University of Portsmouth

mchanvin@gmail.com

Dr. John Tasirin

Main collaboration partner

Biodiversity Conservation Lab, UNSRAT

jtasirin@gmail.com

24

LINKS AND ABBREVIATIONS OF NAMES

WEBPAGES

http://www.macaca-nigra.org

http://www.tangkoko-education.org/

FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/boje000

https://www.facebook.com/tangkokoconservationeducation/

ABBREVIATIONS

BKSDA Department for the Conservation of Natrual Resources

DPZ German Primate Center

IPB Bogor Agricultural University

LJMU Liverpool John Moores University

MNP Macaca Nigra Project

TCE Tangkoko Conservation Education Programme

UNSRAT University Sam Ratulangi