2020 has been the toughest year for WRC Jogja and for all of us. The virus pandemic paralyzes all sectors of the economy. Even though we are engaged in the conservation sector, we are also being affected. The flight out of action and the closure of borders have stopped the arrival of foreign visitors, especially volunteers who help our centers.
This year is our year to improve ourselves. Limited activities do not limit us from taking care of and looking after the animals here. Animals have to keep eating, and operations have to keep going. Miraculously, we have come this far with the help and donations of all of you.
Following the recap in 2020:
From January until February, we had seven wonderful volunteers and three amazing interns. After the lockdown in March, all the upcoming volunteers and internships had to postpone their visits. In the same month, we rescued a Changeable Hawk-eagle from villagers who found it near the river. In April, we released two Crested Serpent Eagles in Jatimulyo, Kulon Progo, and Yogyakarta. Then in May, 1 Changeable Hawk-eagle, 1 Crested serpent eagle, 1 White-bellied Sea eagle, and 2 Peafowl were released in Baluran National Park (East Java), and two weeks later we translocated Python Molurus to GL Zoo Yogyakarta.
In June, we will release five Saltwater Crocodiles in Way Kambas National Park in Lampung, Sumatra. In August, we rescued one Barn owl, which died a few days later due to internal damage. Again in November, we got two Barn owls from the villagers, and we released them soon around the center. We also started the medical checkups for all the small primates. Due to the fact that COVID-19 cases are quite high in our area, we have done the rapid test for all the staff. After the results came, we started to continue the medical checkup in November.
At the end of the year, in December, we rescued one Reticulated Python with nine eggs from the fire department, who removed her from someone’s garden where she had her nest. We named her Jasmin. Jasmin and the eggs will stay in our care for a little while before they are released.
In collaboration with COP and BKSDA, we will immediately translocate our two lovely female Orangutans (Ucokwati and Mungil) to Jungle School in Kalimantan (Borneo) and also release seven long-tailed macaques in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta Region, in the beginning of 2021.
Keep following our social media to get the updates.