'Hanny' The Name Given By Minister Siti For Baby Proboscis Monkeys In Banjarmasin

The newborn proboscis monkey was named Hanny by the Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar. (ANTARA/Word)

BANJARMASIN - Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar gave the name "Hanny" to the baby proboscis monkey who was born at the Proboscis Monkey Rescue Center Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan on March 10, 2021.

"Alhamdulillah, the LHK Minister is pleased to give a name for the birth of this new proboscis monkey," said Amalia Rezeki, Chairperson of the Indonesian Proboscis Monkeys Foundation (SBI), in Banjarmasin, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, March 30.

The name "Hanny" was officially stated on the certificate of naming signed by the Minister of Environment and Forestry for the female proboscis monkey.

According to Amel, Amalia Rezeki's nickname, the minister appreciated SBI's performance in efforts to conserve proboscis monkeys in South Kalimantan.

Moreover, the birth of a baby proboscis monkey in a proboscis monkey care center this time is a rare event and is an achievement in itself for the conservation world, especially for SBI and BKSDA South Kalimantan.

Why not, in the midst of the threat of the proboscis monkey population due to land conversion, forest fires and poaching, it turns out that there is still hope for an ex-situ increase in the proboscis monkey population, especially those deposited that can give birth.

The Minister of Environment and Forestry previously released a female proboscis monkey named Lola Amalia on Bakut Island, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan on February 18 2017. The name Lola Amalia was given by Siti Nurbaya as a form of appreciation for the dedication of Amalia Rezeki as the chairman of the Indonesian Bekantan Friends who have been carrying out efforts to save proboscis monkeys in South Kalimantan.

Amel was even sent by the Ministry of LHK to attend a meeting of the environmental youth forum among ASEAN countries and at the same time won the 2019 ASEAN Youth Eco-champions Award (AYECA) which was held in Cambodia.

Amel also explained that Hanny was born to the mother pair of Mimin (female) and Pedro (male). The two animals were handed over from the community which were kept since they were babies and when they were adults they were handed over to SBI to be rehabilitated because their natural behavior had disappeared. During treatment, the two proboscis monkeys showed symptoms of lust until they were combined to mate and finally gave birth.​​​