Detection Of 3 Leopards In Mount Ciremai, TNGC Center Calls Wild Animals Tend To Avoid Humans

Leopard individuals who were caught by the camera trap facility belonging to the TNGC Center on Mount Ciremai, some time ago. (ANTARA/HO-Balai TNGC)

JABAR - The Ciremai National Park Center (TNGC) detected the presence of three leopards as native animals in the conservation area based on the results of monitoring carried out throughout 2024.

"We managed to detect three individual leopards (Panthera pardus) as native animals in the Mount Ciremai area, as well as one animal that was induced," said TNGC Head Toni Anwar when confirmed, Monday, December 30, as reported by Antara.

He explained that the three individuals were monitored through camera traps installed at a number of points on Mount Ciremai. As a result, the animal was obtained as male, with two individuals with beetles (black) and one with bright leopards.

Toni said, for one animal the result of introduction was a leopard named Rasi, who was female, and was last detected in July 2024.

Rasi is the result of release in 2022, which has a bright leopard pattern. However, another individual introduction, namely Slamet Ramadhan, has not been detected since April 2023," he said.

According to him, this success cannot be separated from the improvement in the monitoring method by the TNGC Balai Monitoring Team in collaboration with the local community and the Indonesian SINTAS Foundation.

In addition, Toni said that the TNGC Center is also supporting the Javan Wild Leopard Survey (JWLS) program to explore the structure of the leopard population on the island of Java.

"The existence of a Javan leopard as a key species is very important, in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem in the Mount Ciremai area, making it the main focus of conservation efforts by various parties," he said.

He said the leopard is one of the endemic animals on the island of Java whose existence is threatened with extinction due to poaching, habitat loss, and forest conversion.

He emphasized that this animal is legally protected in Indonesia, and is registered with CITES Appendix I.

Toni appealed to climbers to remain vigilant by complying with climbing rules, such as following official routes and reporting if they found any signs of the animal's whereabouts.

Although naturally, he added, wildlife such as leopards tend to avoid humans.

"We hope that the results of the JWLS survey, which is planned to be completed in 2025, can provide a more complete picture of the Java leopard population, especially in TNGC," he said.