This backgound information comes from World News/AP: Indochina Primates Face Extinction.
(06/03/2001) This is only an abstract. See the full article(s) at:
http://eces.org/articles/static/99150120079541.shtml

Earth Crash
Documenting the Collapse of a Dying Planet
Southeast Asia's Primates Rapidly Disappearing Due to Loss of Habitat, Poaching for Food, Traditional Medicine, and the Pet Trade. Within eyesight of a sign urging "Don't sell wildlife," a roadside vendor is peddling four slow lorises - little primates with sad luminous eyes - to be burned alive and turned into traditional Chinese medicine. A gibbon, says Sem Sovan, can be ordered for $200 and delivered while customers wait at his ramshackle hut, squirming with snakes, mynah birds and other illegal "products" from nearby Kirirom National Park.
Once an Eden for primates, Cambodia along with neighboring Vietnam and Laos, are being rapidly emptied of these creatures by meat poachers, traditional medicine merchants and villagers encroaching on their ranges. Remarkably, not a single species of primates, man's closest relative in the animal kingdom, was lost in the last century. But global extinction is looming, and it is likely to occur first in Indochina, says Frank Momberg of Fauna and Flora International.
Four of the 25 apes, monkeys, lemurs and other primates listed by the U.S.-based Conservation International as possibly facing extirpation are found in Vietnam. Only some 100 individuals on a single island remain of the Cat Ba Island golden-headed langur while less than 200 Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys, hunted for the medicine trade, hang on in two areas of Vietnam, Momberg says. Almost as vulnerable are Delacour's langur and the gray-shanked douc langur.
"The chances of them seeing the end of the century are slim," he says of the Hainan gibbon, perhaps the world's most endangered primate which lives in a few scattered places in Vietnam and on the Chinese island of Hainan. A tiny gene pool - less than 50 individuals - survives. To avert extinction, conservationists stress, there must be active population management, including captive breeding, and, above all, safe, sufficiently large natural habitat - a shrinking commodity throughout Indochina.
Even the Cardamon Mountains of southwestern Cambodia, long protected by war, malaria and their remote location, are threatened along with what is probably the world's largest population of pileated gibbon. Preliminary surveys show the mountains shelter several hundred to 1,000 of these gibbons, whose haunting songs once frequently resounded through the jungles of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Now they are often death warrants.
Ian Baird, a Canadian conservationist, recalls hearing a female pileated gibbon singing one dawn in the Cardamons, a hunter tracking the sound, then silence. Baird witnessed the subsequent "processing," the animal's skin sold, the meat eaten and the bones used for medicine. Adult gibbons are also killed so their babies can be easily snatched for pets.
Momberg, Indochina program manager at Fauna and Flora International, hopes he has found one formula for salvation. In a mountain forest of northern Vietnam, the England-based FFI is seeking to preserve the western black crested gibbon by involving a half dozen poor tribal villages in their fate. "A reserve is not enough. We need the communities," Momberg says. "If the community doesn't want to care for them that's the end."
Momberg wants the villagers around the Che Thao forest to establish the boundaries of the reserve and select the rangers. A weekly radio program, which includes conservation news, has been started and former wildlife traders have been converted to teachers. "These people don't know they are harboring a gibbon that exists nowhere else," he says. "But they can develop a pride that they are hosting the only population in the world."
A mortal danger to these gibbons and other primates in Indochina is the area's proximity to China, where the appetite for exotic meat, medicine and aphrodisiacs seems insatiable, and growing as the country's economic prosperity increases. Thousands of primates which once chattered and sang in Indochina's jungles are reduced to powdered bones, dried feet, blood and wine concoctions, and monkey brains on Chinese plates.
In Phnom Penh's Chinatown, around Orasay Market, skins of slow lorises lie artistically draped over jute bags in open-fronted shops. Sem Sovan, the wildlife vendor, says he sells about 10 a month to Chinese medicine traders in the Cambodian capital for $50 apiece. He says that burning them alive increases the potency of the medicine, and drinking their blood mixed with rice wine is great for stomach aches.

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From: http://www.ippl.org/05-02-05.html
International Primate Protection League
SINCE 1973: WORKING TO PROTECT GIBBONS AND ALL LIVING PRIMATES

Sumatra’s Ghastly Primate Meat Trade
April 2002
This report was prepared by the Indonesian nature protection group KSBK-Animal Conservation for Life, working on an IPPL small grant.
Around 27 primate species inhabit Indonesia. They are spread over many islands, including Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Bali, and Sulawesi. Their survival in the wild is imperiled because of habitat loss and destruction caused by the opening of forests for farming, plantations, mining, and forest fires.
The existence of these non-human primates is also seriously threatened by the high level of primate trading in Indonesia. Primates are sold at some "bird markets." They are also sold at other places, such as shopping malls, and in some villages around the forest.
The primate trade has become a serious threat as almost 100% of primates traded in Indonesia are taken directly from the wild.
Primates are traded not only as pets but also for meat for a few wealthy people, particularly Chinese. Few Indonesians consume primates for medicinal purposes or as food.
KSBK investigations
Over the last two years KSBK, supported by the International Primate Protection League (IPPL), has conducted investigations of the primate meat trade on Sulawesi, Medan-North Sumatra, and East Java.
During 2001, KSBK cooperated with a local organization named Yayasan ALAS Indonesia, based in Lampung, Sumatra’s southernmost province, to conduct an investigation of the primate trade in the region of Lampung-Sumatra.
This study lasted from September to November 2001 and was supported by IPPL.
Trapping quotas far exceeded
Every year the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA), a branch of the Indonesian Forestry Department, issues quotas for commercial trapping of primate species lacking other legal protection. Trapping quotas are issued in an attempt to prevent trade threatening wild primate populations.
For 2001, primate quotas have been issued only for long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques. The total trapping quota for long-tailed macaques in 2001 was 2000 individuals throughout Indonesia, including all areas of Sumatra. The trapping quota for Lampung-Sumatra long-tailed macaques is 500 animals.
These monkeys are meant solely for use as breading stock. Animals for export must be captive bread.
The KSBK/ALAS investigation shows that the trapping quota has been ignored. A huge amount of poaching is carried on to fulfill the demand for monkeys.

Trapping in Desa Lombok
In September 2001, an investigator from ALAS visited Desa Lombok (Lombok Village) in the Sukau District-West Lampung Region, Sumatra. Intensive primate trapping goes on in this village.
The "Rawayan" are not from this village but from Banten-West Java. The "Rawayan" are well known for their trapping skills and are believed to have a supernatural ability to catch primates. One group of "Rawayan" consists of eight trappers.
The capture method involves using nets 15 meters long and 2.5 meters high. The nets are placed in plantations or forests inhabited by primates. Meanwhile the other trappers heard the primates toward the nets.
Use of this trapping method yields 200-300 primates in 2 weeks. Most of them are long-tailed macaques. The captured primates are then shipped to the island of Java through Bandar Lampung City.
Other hunting methods
Besides using nets, another trapping method involves using food as bait to attract monkeys and then shooting them. This happens in Desa Kedaung, Desa Selapan, and Desa Rantau Tijang, located in Pardasuka District, Tanggamus Region, Lampung.
The trappers are not from the villages but from Pringsewu District and Bandar Lampung. The number of hunters varies from three to 20 people. One hunting expedition can result in the capture of up to 30 long-tailed macaques. There is at least one hunting expedition a month in Pardasuka District.
If one hunting expedition can yield 30 long-tailed macaques, then at least 360 long-tailed macaques are caught annually in Pardasuka District, while it is estimated that around 1,000 long-tailed macaques are caught per year in Desa Lombok-Sukau District.
Monkey bus crashes
The 7 August 2001 issue of the Lampung Post newspaper reported on an accident involving a car and a bus carrying hundreds of long-tailed macaques in the Desa Buay Nyerupa-Sukau region of Lampung. The monkeys were caught in Lombok village and were being sent to Telukbetung-Bandar Lampung.
The terrified primates escaped to some villagers’ plantations as a result of the accident.
The accident proves that Lombok village has become a center of primate poaching in Lampung. Ironically, this poaching is permitted by the Head of Lombok Village.
Visit to a trapper
On 8 November 2001, a KSBK investigator and Yayasan ALAS visited one of the primate trappers named Pak Romli who lives on Jalan Martadinata 98, Sukamaju in Teluk Betung Barat District. Pak Romli usually supplies primates to Bandar Lampung and sometimes to Jakarta.
In the year 2000, Romli was able to catch on average 30 primates every month. Most of them are long-tailed macaques and pig-tailed macaques. Romli is now trying to get official authorization to catch primates so that he can catch even larger numbers of animals.
Meanwhile, study of the trapping transport permits from the local Forestry Department in Lampung (BKSDA Lampung) reveals a permit issued to PT. Wanara Satwaloka, Jalan Lodaya II/3, Bogor, West Java, to catch and transport 400 long-tailed macaques from Lampung.
KSBK and ALAS estimate that more than 3,000 long-tailed macaques are caught in Lampung for trade each year, in spite of the fact that the trapping quota is only 500 individuals per year.
The primate meat trade
In some areas of Indonesia, primate trading happens mostly at "bird markets." But in Lampung, not many primates are sold at bird markets. The trade route leads directly from the trapper to the animal dealing compound or to the slaughterhouse. From the compound some primates are then transported to Java to be sold as pets.
Primates are traded for meat and are not kept as pets in Lampung. Trading is centered at slaughterhouses in Bandar Lampung City.
ALAS and KBSK have identified the two biggest slaughterhouses in Lampung, namely:
the slaughterhouse owned by Baba Lie on Jalan KH. Ahmad Dahlan No. 117/109, Kapang Tebak Administrative area-Teluk Betung Barat, Bandar Lampung.
the slaughterhouse owned by Lo Amen on Jalan Yos Sudarso Gang Bougenville No. 5 RT 01 RW 01 Lk II, Sukaraja Administrative area-Teluk Betung Selatan, Bandar Lampung.
Both slaughterhouses are owned by Chinese people. Chinese are also the main consumers of primate meat. Primate meat is served as soup and stew.
Visits to the slaughterhouses
There are several primate cages at Baba Lie’s place. Twelve primates are kept in cages 100 x 60 x 40 centimeters (40 x 24 x 16 inches). Ten young primates are kept in narrower cages 50 x 50 x 50 cm (20 x 20 x 20 inches). All the cages are made of iron.
Most of the primates at Baba Lie’s are long-tailed macaques and pig-tailed macaques. However, Baba Lie also has other protected primates, these are "Cecah" (a species of leaf monkey) and siamang gibbons.
Similar to Baba Lie’s, the cages in Lo Amen’s place are also narrow: 200 x 100 x 100 cm (80 x 40 x 40 inches). These cages each contain 15-20 primates. The cages are also made of iron. The primates slaughtered are mainly long-tailed macaques.
The trade in primate meat is widespread, especially in the Chinese community. In Lampung, there is a restaurant which openly offers monkey meat on the menu. The restaurant is Khuak Lok on Jalan Kartini No. 136 C Tanjung Karang, Bandar Lampung, Telp. The special menu is served only on Saturdays and costs 15,000 rupiahs (US $1.50) per portion.
The primates in the slaughterhouses are supplied by primate trappers based in various areas, including Desa Lombok, Sukau District, Padang Cermin South Lampung, and Pardasuka District.
KSBK Yayasan and ALAS investigators visited over ten different locations in Lampung to collect information about primate trapping and poaching.

Volume of primate trade
There are on average 20 primates slaughtered every week. This means that around 80 primates a month and 960 primates a year are slaughtered. Ko Amen slaughters around 50 primates each month or 600 individuals in a year. KBSK and Yayasan ALAS noted 15 primates awaiting slaughter when visiting Ko Amen’s house on 8 November 2001.
Our study shows that 1,560 primates are killed at these two slaughterhouses every year. The number does not include the primates killed at other slaughterhouses. Hence the number is larger than what was estimated by KSBK and Yayasan ALAS. The numbers far exceed the issued trapping quota of only 500 for long-tailed macaques. All of these primates are removed directly from the wild.
The price of primate meat on average is 10,000 rupiah per kilogram (US $1.00). Baba Lie also sells uncut dead monkeys for 50,000 rupiah (US $5.00) for meat from adult primates and 75,000 rupiah (US $7.50) for meat from baby monkeys.
Brutal slaughtering process
KSBS and Yayasan ALAS investigators witnessed and filmed the slaughtering process at Ko Amen’s place at the beginning of November 2001. The killing methods used at the slaughterhouses are very sadistic and inhumane.
Many consumers of primate meat believe that the meat tastes more delicious and gives the person eating it more power and strength if it is consumed along with its blood. Therefore, the monkey is often killed by burning it alive to keep the blood inside the body of the dead monkey.
Moreover, the slaughtering and burning of primates is conducted in front of other primates. The primates watch the scene and are deeply stressed and fearful at seeing their friends being slaughtered inhumanely.
The dead monkeys are hung up and the butcher burns off all the monkey’s fur. Next the monkey’s head is cut off, and the body is cut into pieces. The chunks of monkey meat are then cooked in boiled water until they become tender. The well cooked meat is ready to be made into soup or monkey satay.

The remaining monkey parts, such as the foot and leg, are usually sold for medicinal purposes. Some people believe that monkey parts can cure diseases like asthma. The parts are soaked in a glass of water and then the purchaser consumes the drink.
Monkey meat eaters are rich! The killing of monkeys for use as meat in Lampung is frivolous and species- destructive. Monkey meat is a dish enjoyed by only a few people, especially Chinese. There are many delicious food options available in Bandar Lampung. There is no justification for killing thousands of monkeys. The consumption of primate meat supports the large-scale poaching of primates in the wild.
The cost of primate meat is low and the primate trappers are paid relatively small sums. In some villages in Lampung, long-tailed macaques are sold for 5,000-15,000 rupiah per monkey (US $0.50-1.50).
At the slaughterhouse, the price increases to 50,000-15,000 rupiah (US $5.00-7.50) per animal. Monkeys shipped to Jakarta are sold for higher prices (100,000-150,000 rupiahs or US $10.00-15.00).
The slaughter of large numbers of primates for the meat trade causes suffering to the animals involved. The consumers of primate meat are not poor, starving people - they are usually wealthy.
The trapping of thousands of primates every year in Lampung, Sumatra, for commercial purposes and for their meat is totally unnecessary.
KSBK-ALAS Recommendations
The local government in Lampung must stop the killing of primates for their meat Restaurants should be forbidden to sell any primate meat or other wild animal meat.
Dirjen PHKA Forestry Department and the local government in Lampung should ban the trapping of long-tailed macaques, because the trappers have far exceeded the legal quotas.
Dirjen PHKA Forestry Department should ban the transportation of primates from Lampung to Java, which is often conducted illegally and involves protected species.