The release of the Javanese leopard (June 2009) into its natural habitat, near to where it was captured by a villager's wild boar trap, is a good lesson. As is the return of 50 orangutans from Thailand (2005), who will be released into the Sumatra or Borneo rainforests from where they originate.
The success of the release of two tigers from Aceh into the Tambling forest in Lampung is yet to be proved, as a similar scheme with Siberian tigers in Russia was not successful (Indo Pos, July 2008).
The attempted relocation of the Javan rhinoceros from Ujung Kulon, Banten to Gunung Halimun, Sukabumi has not taken place because of residents' objections. These people might learn from the capture of 18 Sumatran rhinos between 1985 and 1992 for a breeding program outside Sumatra. The program only produced one healthy rhinoceros, called Andalas, 13 others died.
The recent controversy about the relocation of 10 Komodo dragons from Wae Wuul, Manggarai to Bali should learn from the lessons above. Big game animals are always complicated. Let us rely on natural selection.
Yustinus Dicky Widhyatmoko
Bekas
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