Rescued long-tailed macaques are learning to be wild again

At Jakarta Animal Aid Network’s sanctuary, every rescued monkey is given something they were once denied: the chance to be wild.

Before their rescue, the 31 macaques in the Monkey Freedom Project were stripped of natural behaviours. Chained, masked, starved, and abused - they were forced to perform tricks for crowds instead of climbing trees, grooming companions, or foraging for food in the forest. Most were taken from their mothers as babies and never learned the skills they’d need to survive in the wild. 

Now, with your support, they’re finally beginning that journey. 

Why staying wild matters 

For these monkeys, staying wild is more than instinct - it’s key to a life beyond the sanctuary. That’s why rehabilitation at JAAN is carefully designed to rebuild trust in other monkeys, not people. 

While staff provide food, medical care and enrichment, they keep their distance. The goal is to avoid humanisation and ensure the monkeys form strong bonds with each other - not with carers. This helps them relearn vital survival behaviours and increases their chances of being released into the wild later on. 

The monkeys live with minimal contact, and enrichment is designed to encourage natural instincts - like problem solving, foraging, and social grooming. 

First steps toward freedom 

During their time in quarantine, the monkeys were left alone between meals and only approached for health checks or treatment. Even then, the team worked gently and without fuss. For many, it was the first time they were treated with respect and patience. 

By the end of quarantine, signs of progress were everywhere. Monkeys like Unyil — once too terrified to eat in front of people — began to relax and play. Panjul, who used to show signs of stress, started bonding with other monkeys. They were watching, learning, and remembering what it meant to be part of a group. 

Once they moved into the socialisation enclosure, everything changed. No longer isolated, the monkeys began rediscovering life in a troop: grooming, playing, defending territory, and even developing rivalries and hierarchies. 

Wild instincts, reborn 

Social behaviours are a crucial part of macaque survival. For example: 

• Jono — who initially walked back and forth nervously during arguments — has grown more confident and now steps in to calm disputes. 

• Panjul, once introverted and prone to hugging himself, is becoming more secure as he’s accepted by the group. 

• Unyil, the youngest, was embraced immediately and is often seen playing or grooming with his new companions. 

These aren’t just sweet moments, they’re proof that trauma is healing and that wild instincts are returning.

The next chapter: jungle training and release 

Once fully rehabilitated, the monkeys will move to a pre-release enclosure deep in protected forest. There, they'll face their final test: living independently without daily human support. 

Only the strongest, most cohesive groups will make it to the final stage. But with every new behaviour, every shared moment, and every successful interaction - they're getting closer. 

And it's all because of you. 

Image credits: Hero image is by JAAN.