23 August 2017 – Today in #AnimalsofCikananga: Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea) IUCN status: Vunerable

Although endangered, sadly these animals are not protected in Indonesia, and that’s why we find them very often on markets or as pets at home, mostly very stressed and frustrated. Sometimes they turn into aggressive behaviour as they are kept in small cages and don’t get the right nutrition. Although we would like to rescue them, we are legally not equipped to do so but Some ended up in Cikananga after hand-overs from owners in the past, like Bubble and Squeak who arrived here last June. Still, we hope to release these otters in the future, if there is a possibility. Want to help? http://www.wanicare.com/how-to-help/donations
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In the July and August of this year we share a series of photo’s we call #AnimalsofCikananga. With this series we hope to give some insights and backgrounds on the rescued animals that are here in Cikananga and are so typical for the many challenges wild animals face in Indonesia.
Of course, we also hope to raise some extra attention to the work we do for the animals, the –very often- tragic situations and hope to find some help, financially or otherwise. Please like, share, tag and tell your friends, and help us save the wildlife.

Photo: Iing Naturalica

18 August 2017 – We very happy to share that Crested serpent eagles Vico and Ingo got their freedom back yesterday in the Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve. Here some snapshots of this beautiful moment, but keep following for a video! Please help us to release more animals back to the wild, where they belong.

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15 august 2017 – A Javan slow loris who was brought to cikananga last weekend was released today to the wild again. This young girl was taken in by concerned people when it roamed in the center of village near sukabumi. After she was brought to cikananga, we could confirm by assessing her condition, teeth and behavior that she was from the wild. We are happy that she found the right people who knew that slow lorises belong in the wild.

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12 Augusts 2017 – Finally time for release! Two young Crested serpent-eagles will get their freedom back by the end of next week.

These two eagles arrived with worrying condition. Both were severely neglected, being very skinny and dehydrated. And since they were kept in very small cages most of the wing feathers and all tail feathers were broken (photo week after arrival). After their initial recovery the long road of improving their hunting and flying skills was started. Everything went like we hoped for and finally they can be released.

Follow us here to see how these eagles get their freedom back!!

10 August 2017 – #AnimalsofCikananga, today: The Javan Leopards – (Panthera Pardus Melas) IUCN: Critically Endangered

Currently there are 6 Javan Leopards in Cikananga, who all once lived in the wild. To put that in perspective: With possibly less than 100 individuals left in the wild, this could be 6% (!) of the complete wild population and numbers are declining. We have dedicated much of our small resources to the Javan Leopards as we think we change the future and help secure the survival of this species. We have named this the ‘Javan Leopard Release Program’. This program will help to expand the population, and provides important information about releasing Javan Leopards as there is no release experience at all with this species.

Most Javan Leopards in Cikananga are victim of a conflict with humans: As the habitats shrink it’s impossible for to find their own solitary habitat: As their last resort they go to a village to find a goat, chickens or else. There they get captured and if an immediate return is impossible, our rescue team can only take them to Cikananga.

In the coming months we  will move all Leopards to the new facilities that we are building in Cikananga which will be the first major step in a return to the wild. We hope to realize release in the coming years, but we cannot do this without support from individuals and organisations. Do you want to make a difference!? Please help #SAVETHEJAVANLEOPARD before it’s too late and donate.

More on our Javan Leopard Release Program can be found here

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In the July and August of this year we share a series of photo’s we call #AnimalsofCikananga. With this series we hope to give some insights and backgrounds on the rescued animals that are here in Cikananga and are so typical for the many challenges wild animals face in Indonesia.

Of course, we also hope to raise some extra attention to the work we do for the animals, the –very often-  tragic situations and hope to find some help, financially or otherwise. Please like, share, tag and tell your friends, and help us save the wildlife.

Photo: Iing Naturalica

5 August 2017 – Today in #AnimalsofCikananga: Pino, yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) IUCN: Critically Endangered

3 August 2017 – Today in #AnimalsofCikananga: Eppa, Knobbed Hornbill (Aceros cassidix) IUCN: Vulnerable

Meet Eppa, a stunningly beautiful hornbill that normally lives on Sulawesi and likes to nest in large trees op to 50 meter. And that’s a problem: These trees are cut down in an alarming speed. The diminishing habitat is not the only reasons of the problems: Sadly, according to some badly informed believers their majestic red horn has medical powers that heals all kinds of things. Of course it’s nonsense but sadly one of the reasons of their Vulnerable status. Eppa is now in Cikananga since 2015 after a confiscation from an illegal trader who tried to get him out of the country: Big money is payed for this species on the black market.

1 August 2017 – Today in #AnimalsofCikananga, Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi) Captain, IUCN: Vulnerably Threatened

As part of a huge confiscation in late November 2015 Captain arrived as a young cub of about 3 months old. The only explanation is that the young Captain was poached from the wild, under the eyes of the mother since young Clouded Leopards are close to their mother. What happened to her is not clear, but we fear for the worst scenario. After a couple of months in quarantine Captain moved to a larger, outside enclosure which gives him some space to move around, although is limited and not ideal. Since he has spent almost his complete life with humans, first the traders, and of course later our keepers, he is relatively tame and this blocks a return to the wild.

Captain is an example of many animals in rescue centers these days: Healthy and strong, but without a place to go he is stuck. A return to the wild will be very hard, it’s highly doubtful whether he will survive because he lacks the skills he should have learned in his first years. Rehabilitation programs are inexistent and we as relatively small organisation do not have the means, money or facilities for a complete rehabilitation and release process for just one individual.
As we are focussing on many species we come to the conclusion that we cannot do so much for Captain as an individual. In the mean time we try to give him the best care with lots of enrichment and we are working on a larger permanent sanctuary where is welfare is guaranteed, in Cikananga or elsewhere.

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In the July and August of this year we share a series of photo’s we call #AnimalsofCikananga. With this series we hope to give some insights and backgrounds on the rescued animals that are here in Cikananga and are so typical for the many challenges wild animals face in Indonesia.
Of course, we also hope to raise some extra attention to the work we do for the animals, the –very often- tragic situations and hope to find some help, financially or otherwise. Please like, share, tag and tell your friends, and help us save the wildlife: http://www.wanicare.com/how-to-help/donations

Photo: Jonathan J-Dawg Beilby

28 July 2017 – Today in #AnimalsofCikananga: Black, Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) IUCN: Threatened

Siamang Black was handed over from a private zoo, and it was horrible and sad sight when he arrived in Cikananga: With his body completely covered in scabies the itch was so overwhelming he had no nails to scratch anymore. Also his canines were cut and as this denies him from eating some of his natural diet, so a return to the wild in Sumatra is simply impossible. There they suffer from habitat loss and poaching for the illegal pet trade… Luckily after his trauma Black recovered very good and today he is doing very well.

For animals like Black we provide a permanent sanctuary with various types of enrichment and of course professional medical care. We are very happy to improve the enrichment standards over the years and with the help of some experienced organisations and individuals we offer animals like Black physical and mental distraction and challenges in the form of nutritional supplements, climbing and swinging structures, toys, different enclosure furniture and much more. And did you know that black is easily the loudest animal of Cikananga? Male Siamangs call with a voice that reaches up to 113 decibel, and that’s well over the average human pain threshold… Keep a distance!