This does not sound good for Lembang Park & Zoo. Hopefully the leopard is fine and transported to a national park. LPZ should've acquired zoo-bred Sri Lankan leopards instead.
Lembang Park and Zoo Lembang Park & Zoo
This does not sound good for Lembang Park & Zoo. Hopefully the leopard is fine and transported to a national park. LPZ should've acquired zoo-bred Sri Lankan leopards instead.
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
It was already planned to eventually be sent to the Mount Ciremai National Park, but of course they need to do check up on the leopard first. Bandung Zoo has a lot of experience handling rescued leopards, but as we know they're not in the best situation thus far. Taman Satwa Cikembulan was initially contacted, which they had experience with Javan leopards as well, but they sadly couldn't accept. Lembang Park & Zoo was, for some reason, the only option by BKSDA, despite having absolutely no experience whats so ever.
As stated, Lembang clearly have little to no experience handling largely wild carnivora, as the zoo has either been captive origin (Sun bear, hyena, etc.) or one that are essentialy very used to humans or are farm-bred (Lion, cheetah, tiger, etc.). It's a wake up call for Lembang to actually implement management and care style as with most other larger zoos, not as a private menagerie.
And, the leopard being sent to Lembang is most likely not because they WANT a leopard to begin with, nor if they likely even planning to have one. This is a case of wild animals being in conflict with humans, which might be expected due to encroaching human activities and shrinking habitat, but technicaly it can be considered "unpredictible" since these encounters can come inpromptu and at any moment. So, Lembang for some God know how reason being the only facility likely willing to house the leopard for a while (Remember, Lembang wasn't even the first choice), take the leopard for that reason, not because they want a leopard. So the question isn't that Lembang should get a quote-on-qoute "docile" leopard, but how will Lembang reform themselves after this incident to being more ready and willing to learn and take more active conservation duties and efforts? Something that even the "worser" Bandung Zoo and Taman Satwa Cikembulan had done quite well.
To be honest, I don't think there's that many "captive" leopards to begin with, wether they're African, Sri Lankan, Amur, or any other subspecies. They seems to be more predominantly "wilder" than captive lions, tigers, or even jaguars. Not to mention that their wild cats seems to be procured from private farms/suppliers, not zoos
It was already planned to eventually be sent to the Mount Ciremai National Park, but of course they need to do check up on the leopard first. Bandung Zoo has a lot of experience handling rescued leopards, but as we know they're not in the best situation thus far. Taman Satwa Cikembulan was initially contacted, which they had experience with Javan leopards as well, but they sadly couldn't accept. Lembang Park & Zoo was, for some reason, the only option by BKSDA, despite having absolutely no experience whats so ever.
As stated, Lembang clearly have little to no experience handling largely wild carnivora, as the zoo has either been captive origin (Sun bear, hyena, etc.) or one that are essentialy very used to humans or are farm-bred (Lion, cheetah, tiger, etc.). It's a wake up call for Lembang to actually implement management and care style as with most other larger zoos, not as a private menagerie.
And, the leopard being sent to Lembang is most likely not because they WANT a leopard to begin with, nor if they likely even planning to have one. This is a case of wild animals being in conflict with humans, which might be expected due to encroaching human activities and shrinking habitat, but technicaly it can be considered "unpredictible" since these encounters can come inpromptu and at any moment. So, Lembang for some God know how reason being the only facility likely willing to house the leopard for a while (Remember, Lembang wasn't even the first choice), take the leopard for that reason, not because they want a leopard. So the question isn't that Lembang should get a quote-on-qoute "docile" leopard, but how will Lembang reform themselves after this incident to being more ready and willing to learn and take more active conservation duties and efforts? Something that even the "worser" Bandung Zoo and Taman Satwa Cikembulan had done quite well.
To be honest, I don't think there's that many "captive" leopards to begin with, wether they're African, Sri Lankan, Amur, or any other subspecies. They seems to be more predominantly "wilder" than lions, tigers, or even jaguars. Not to mention that their wild cats seems to be procured from private farms/suppliers, not zoos
I guess this been a disaster for Indonesian zoos recently, namely Taman Safari, Bandung Zoo and Lembang Park & Zoo. The only winner is Ragunan Zoo that is going to get a facelift a là Jagat Satwa in the near future.
The exhibit looks quite good!
That sounds really as bad management practice. LPZ should have a secure quarantaine and rescue station / facility for these cases and the curator team should really reflect on their capacity holding for rescuees as well as start thinking about proper quarantaine facility and purpose built exclosures for hoofstock and carnivores.
Mossman Joe
Well-Known Member
In a hilarious turn of events, the escaped Javan Leopard has apparrently made its way towards Tangkuban Perahu National Park, effectively releasing itself into the wild, though LPZ with help from the BKSDA is still attempting to track the leopard in hopes of capturing it again.
Alarmingly, the joint team stated that while they hope to catch the leopard alive, they are allowed to shoot it dead if need be.
BBKSDA: Macan Tutul Lembang Park Zoo Kabur Ke Gunung Tangkuban Parahu
Alarmingly, the joint team stated that while they hope to catch the leopard alive, they are allowed to shoot it dead if need be.
BBKSDA: Macan Tutul Lembang Park Zoo Kabur Ke Gunung Tangkuban Parahu
I'd rather leave them be there. Just face it, LPZ will not be able to get it and it's better for it to live there.
If they shoot it dead, the animal welfare/rights organizations will come for them.
The second line underlines really how unfit zoo management as well as the capture team are. If as has been the case the Jawan leopard Ran off to a national park ... what needs to happen is that - if anything - the leopard is radio-collared for future monitoring.... - if anything, ... I am not saying that this should.
Makes one wonder how large the population of Jawan leopard is in Tangkuban Perahu NP. Any of our Indonesian esteemed Zoochat posters has a better idea then I do. (My info: Is basically the population of Jawan leopard is no greater than 200-250 across the entirety of Jawa...., but that is already a few years old and not really current).
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
Recent estimate has risen to overall 350 individuals as of February 2025, according to the Ministry of Forestry.
Is there any wild leopard in the place where the leopard finally escaped into?
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
I couldn't find any data. The thing with Tangkuban Perahu, unlike more natural NPs like Ujung Kulon or even the more popular hiking sites like Mt. Semeru, Tangkuban Perahu is usually filled with ordinary families flocking into one popular spot around the dormant crater, despite the few sites here and there as well as the large swathes of forest around it.
So, in the eyes of the local authority, perhaps there's a urgency to find the leopard and move him to another site that are less frequented by ordinary visitors, as well as to not affect the reputation of the Tangkuban Perahu NP as a popular tourist destination.
I am puzzled about this .... as a park like Gunung Halimun / Salak NP has a resident population of Jawan leopard and is as yet relatively accessible from major population centres like Jakarta, Tangerang and Sukabumi... (????).
I know the Jawan leopard monitoring and conservation program on Jawa received major interest from Ministry of Forestry and BKDSA and even a working group exists to monitor the most important populations as well as the outliers.
I would love to see more recent data and publications on the recovery program in situ!
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
Halimun Salak aren't that particularly popular to most ordinary Indonesians, especially due to the surrounding mysticism around it. Aside from avid hikers or folklore enthusiasts, Halimun Salak doesn't really received way too much ordinary visitors, way less than the way more accesible (And very popular) Tangkuban Perahu and recently the Baluran National Park.
Indonesians love simple travel, and ones that is accesible and "worth seeing" ones at that. Visitors mostly always visit around the crater area on Tangkuban Perahu, especially with the grey sands and rocks around it for people to photograph themselves. Parks like Baluran have recently been heavily marketed as "Africa van Java" with the safari rides, increasing their popularity. In the eyes of some Indonesians, there's simply "nothing to do" in places like Halimun Salak and the more natural ones, as well a fearing being lost or simply just to avoid exhaustion (Which to them aren't worth much).
I guess thats the stake with the leopard roaming around Tangkuban Perahu, because its simply more profitable and popular to sacrifice having leopard roaming around there, which has made locals in the area already scared to begin with.
Mossman Joe
Well-Known Member
As the Leopard has now reached its native habitat, LPZ has decided to cease its search and will no longer attempt to recapture the animal, but will continue to monitor the Leopard in Gunung Tangkuban Perahu.
Curiously, the zoo is still closed as per instructions by the BKSDA so as to "make sure there are no lasting danger left by the predator", whatever that means.
Macan Tutul Lembang Park and Zoo Dipastikan ke Hutan Tangkuban Parahu, Pencarian Dihentikan
Curiously, the zoo is still closed as per instructions by the BKSDA so as to "make sure there are no lasting danger left by the predator", whatever that means.
Macan Tutul Lembang Park and Zoo Dipastikan ke Hutan Tangkuban Parahu, Pencarian Dihentikan
Whew, that's a relief
At least they won't shoot the animal dead, now that it has escaped to a better habitat
Hopefully LPZ reopens soon and the exhibit intended for the leopard will be used for a similar animal (probably a puma or a foreign leopard like a Sri Lankan or African leopard from other zoos)
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
I don't think there's an exhibit intended for leopard there, and I've been there last month. The hyenas and the small exotic cats are still there
The leopard escaped from the quarantine area, not the main public zoo display area.
Ohhh.. any WIP exhibits there at the moment?
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
I didn't look much, only spend like two hours there. I only find and photographed the rarities I seek, like the birds-of-paradise and brown hyenas, and then left.
Ohhh... I see. Hopefully you can post them over here.
Mossman Joe
Well-Known Member
A wild Javan Leopard has somehow ended up in a hotel in Bandung, with some speculating that this individual might actually be the one that escaped LPZ around a month ago. The animal will be taken to LPZ for temporary observation, but is eventually set to be rehabilitated at the Cikananga Wildlife Center in Sukabumi.
Macan Tutul Masuk Hotel di Bandung, Usai Diobservasi, Akan Direhabilitasi di Sukabumi
Macan Tutul Masuk Hotel di Bandung, Usai Diobservasi, Akan Direhabilitasi di Sukabumi
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
Surely a far much appropriate and experienced handler, I wonder what makes them thinking of sending the leopard to Lembang instead of Cikananga.
Hopefully the leopard will be more secure and taken care of there before being release, I have good opinions on CWR. As for Lembang, I never expect to much from them anyway.