Leopard Enters Bandung Hotel, IPB University Expert Reminds Us of the Importance of In-Situ Conservation
The recent incident of a leopard entering a hotel in Bandung has attracted public attention. The wild animal is believed to be a leopard that escaped from Lembang Zoo about a month ago.
According to IPB University Wildlife Ecology Expert and Lecturer in Forest Resource Conservation and Ecotourism, Dr Abdul Haris Mustari, this incident shows that the predator was still able to survive in the wild for several weeks after escaping from its enclosure.
“This incident emphasizes the need for caution on the part of zoo or wildlife park managers. Enclosures must be properly designed, using strong materials and creating a comfortable environment for the animals inside,” explained Dr Mustari.
Leopards, he added, are wild animals whose natural habitat is in forested areas. The Javan leopard has two morphological types, the leopard and the clouded leopard. However, both still belong to the same species, Panthera pardus melas.
In the wild, this animal preys on various animals such as wild boars, mouse deer, muntjacs, young bulls, and primates such as long-tailed monkeys, langurs, surilis, and Javan slow lorises. In addition, leopards also hunt birds such as jungle fowl and peacocks, as well as reptiles such as monitor lizards.
As the top predator on the island of Java after the extinction of the Javan tiger, leopards are known to be very skilled at climbing trees and often rest on large tree branches.
“From these characteristics, it is clear that leopards are animals that are not suitable for living in cages, especially if the cages do not meet animal welfare requirements,” said Dr Mustari.
He explained that there are five main indicators of animal welfare in captivity: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from physical discomfort, freedom from pain and disease, freedom from fear and distress, and freedom to express natural behaviors.
“Even though the animals are fed every day, their need to express natural behaviors such as hunting and social interaction cannot be replaced,” he added.
The stressful conditions in the enclosure are often the reason animals try to escape, including the leopard that ended up in the hotel area.
Dr Mustari also emphasized that animals that have been caged for a long time and are accustomed to being fed by humans will become dependent on that food supply. “Therefore, when released, they tend to return to human environments,” he said.
As a long-term solution, he emphasized the key role of in-situ conservation, namely the protection of animals in their natural habitat. This approach not only protects a single species, but also the entire biodiversity within the ecosystem.
“With in-situ conservation, water sources, microclimates, and ecological balance can be well maintained,” said Dr Mustari.
Dr Mustari also shared a message regarding wildlife conservation. “Keeping wild predators is not easy. Managers should pay attention to the safety and welfare of the animals.”
Therefore, he emphasized that the government, in this case the Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut)/Center for Natural Resources Conservation (BBKSDA) as the management authority, should increase its supervision of conservation institutions (LK), such as zoos, wildlife parks, and safari parks. (dr) (IAAS/RMH)
