Bali Tourists Beware: Suffering for Sale
Obtaining animals in order to sell them is a horrific business. Baby monkeys are often illegally abducted from their jungle homes after hunters kill their mothers.
The bite of a slow loris is highly venomous and can be deadly to humans. For this reason, the “pet” and tourist industries often remove their teeth – without anaesthetic – using pliers or other tools. This excruciating procedure is torture and can lead to infection and even death.
The slow loris at this market was kept in a small, barren cage without access to water. These sensitive animals are nocturnal primates, which means the noisy, brightly lit environment would have been incredibly stressful for them. There was no official record of the animal, who was being sold “off the books”.
Many exotic animals who are sold to ill-informed buyers or acquired as novelties on a whim die prematurely or are abandoned when buyers are no longer able or willing to care for them.
Failing Law Enforcement
PETA Asia is calling on Indonesia’s law-enforcement authorities and Ministry of Environment and Forestry to investigate this illegal, violent trade and file appropriate charges against the perpetrators.
This is the third time in as many years that illegal wildlife trafficking has been exposed at this market. Just last year, the same shop was caught selling monkeys, who were confiscated. The shop was given a warning and agreed never to sell monkeys again. Yet it brazenly continues to sell illegally imported animals. The wildlife trafficker even compares his activities to those of the Mafia.
Authorities’ ineffectual warnings have clearly done nothing to deter vendors. Meaningful enforcement must be implemented without delay.
Threat to World Health
It’s estimated that 75% of all new infectious diseases originate from animals other than humans. Animal markets, like the one at which the novel coronavirus that led to the global pandemic is believed to have originated, are potential breeding grounds for viruses that cause zoonotic diseases, including COVID-19, SARS, and monkeypox.
Markets where there is direct contact between customers and live animals provide the ideal environment for viruses to jump from one host to another. Faeces and bodily fluids can easily and unknowingly be carried into restaurants, homes, and other places on the shoes and clothing of anyone who visits such markets. Rabies, which has a mortality rate of almost 100%, and herpes B virus, which is fatal to nearly 70% of humans who do not receive timely treatment, can be transferred from macaques to humans.
What You Can Do
Regardless of where you are in the world, never buy animals at markets, from dealers, or from pet shops. Animal shelters are filled with dogs and cats who need loving homes.
Animals such as slow lorises are not suitable animal companions. These fascinating individuals are nocturnal and like to travel long distances at night. Keeping them enclosed in brightly lit environments is cruel. They have highly complex nutritional needs and often become obese when guardians fail to meet them.
People who later realise that taking care of these animals is more work than they expected abandon thousands of “exotic pets” each year. Learn more about why you should never support the exotic-pet trade:
News 2025 There is hope:
This landmark case sets an important precedent in the fight against wildlife trafficking in Indonesia. It sends a clear message that the illegal capture, trade, and abuse of wild animals will no longer be tolerated. Justice can and will be pursued for the victims of the wildlife trade!
For the first time in Indonesia, a suspect identified as S (59) was sentenced by the Denpasar District Court Judge Gede Putra Astawa S.H.M.H to a fine of Rp 500,000 or seven days in prison for trafficking long-tailed macaques at the Satria Bird Market.
This result follows a legal report filed by JAAN Indonesia and Sintesia Animalia with law enforcement officials and with support from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Denpasar Public Order Police Unit (Satpol PP). The report was issued after a foreign tourist discovered yet another critically ill baby monkey (we named Satria after the rescue). The baby monkey is currently receiving intensive care at the Umah Lumba rehabilitation center, part of JAAN Indonesia.
The director and founder of JAAN Indonesia, Femke Den Haas, emphasized that the practice of wildlife trafficking is not only illegal but also causes suffering for the animals affected. "This is the result of years of struggle. Many monkeys are taken from outside Bali, such as Sumatra, to be sold in markets. Tourists often email us with complaints and they often end up buying a monkey to save them from their poor living conditions. Ironically, this empathy actually encourages traders to continue selling due to increase in demand. In 2022, we, along with the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Animal Husbandry Service, installed signs at Balinese animal markets that prohibite the primate trade. Then, in 2024, we conducted outreach activities with the Denpasar Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) and our partners at BKSDA Bali. However, because the suspect, who had previously promised to stop trading wild animals, continued his actions, in 2025 we decided to pursue legal action when hard evidence was gathered about the trade and suffering these monkeys endure," said Femke.
"The violation committed by the perpetrator falls under the category of animal abuse. This is in accordance with Article 28 paragraph (1), which states that everyone is prohibited from torturing animals or livestock." Wayan Anggara Bawa, from the Investigation and Criminal Investigation Unit of the Public Order Police Unit, added.
Veterinarian Farida Ulya presented in court the suffering and torture the long tailed macaques endure in this cruel trade. Satria, the last victim from the Balinese market, was near death when we received him for treatment at our center.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 42 paragraph (1), (2) of Bali Provincial Regulation No. 5 of 2023 concerning the Implementation of Public Order, Public Tranquility, and Community Protection, perpetrators of wildlife trafficking can be subject to a maximum criminal penalty of 3 (three) months in prison and/or a fine of up to IDR 50,000,000 (fifty million rupiah).
The long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), which is currently listed as 'Endangered' according to the IUCN Red List due to the rampant wildlife trade and the destruction of its natural habitat. The illegal capture and sale of this species not only disrupts its wild population but also accelerates the decline of biodiversity in Bali and the surrounding areas.
If you see animals for sale illegally, contact the local authorities immediately.
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