Schmutzer Primate Center, Ragunan Zoo

If you are into animals and their conservation, this place would be one great alternative to visit in Indonesia. Schmutzer Primate Center is located in Ragunan Zoo, South Jakarta, Indonesia. Its establishment began with the dream of two best-friends Mrs. Puck Schmutzer and Mr. John Aspinal who were both animal lovers and committed to conserve animals. They shared the same idea to, one day, bring gorilla to Indonesia. Even though they had passed away before the idea came true, Dr. Willie Smits, a Dutch conservationist, made possible their dream come true. Through hard work and cooperation with Ragunan Zoo, he established the Primate Center and continued the plan to house gorillas.

Front part of the house of gorillas

Cooperation between Ragunan Zoo and Howletts Wild Animal Park in England led to an agreement of transferring four gorillas born there to the Primate Center in Indonesia. Many preparations were done including training the new gorilla keepers to full health checks for the animals before their journey. On 6 July, 2002, four male gorillas began their journey to Indonesia accompanied by two Indonesian keepers and one English senior keeper. Two days after that, on 8 July, 2002, the four gorillas arrived in Schmutzer Primate Center, Ragunan.

Those four gorillas are Kumba, Komu, Kihi and Kidjoum. They were all born with the father named Kijo yet with different mothers. Kumba was born with the mother named Shumba, Kumo was born with the mother named Mushie while Kihi was born with the mother named Dihi. I do not know much about Kidjoum because he had died several years ago. According to one of the caretakers, Kidjoum liked to make himself fall from high tree and fight with the other gorillas. Even so, I am not certain with his cause of death.

Kumba - the Leader

Komu - the Easy going

Kihi - the Solitaire

Based on the information given in the center, Kumbo rests on his throne only two days after their arrival to the center. Kumbo is indeed the biggest gorilla in the center. He makes friend with Komu, they are always together. Kihi is wandering by himself, especially after the death of Kidjoum. Kumbo and Kihi were born on the same date, that was on 8 May 1995. Yet, since Kihi is less bigger than Kumbo it made Kumbo their leader. While Komu is the youngest, he was born on 16 April 1997. He is informed to be the easy going one in making friends with the other gorillas.

With its total area of 13 acres, Schumtzer Primate Center accommodates the conservation well. It resembles the rain forest in Africa quite enough even though not all 13 acres have been made use for it. High rainfall in South Jakarta makes it perfect. Other than those three gorillas left, the Primate Center also conserves different families of primates. Visitors can also learn more about primate in its Pusat Pendidikan Primata (Primate Education Center), that is just located beside the house of gorilla.

So if you decided to visit Indonesia, put Schmutzer Primate Center into your schedule. Only by paying 4500 rupiahs to enter the Ragunan Zoo and another 5000 rupiahs to enter the center, you will be able to see the best animals conservation in Indonesia and not to forget the gorillas. Please enjoy and join the conservation.