Disturbing Footage Reveals Cruelty to Monkeys in Indonesia
Disturbing footage has exposed the cruel treatment of monkeys in Indonesia, where they are forced to perform painful tricks for tourists. The animals endure being made to walk on stilts, ride toy motorbikes, and dance in front of crowds, all while wearing chains around their necks. In one clip, a monkey falls from a miniature motorbike and tries to escape, only to be yanked back by a chain and forced to remount. Another shows a monkey staggering on stilts, visibly distressed, leaning backward in an attempt to resist as its trainer drags it forward. The animal is later thrown a hat, which it instinctively places on its head—a trick it has been forced to repeat countless times.
Even when not performing, the monkeys are chained to metal poles or kept in cramped, dark boxes. Last month, 46 monkeys rescued from a training centre in Cirebon in 2024 were released back into the wild after spending 18 months at the Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) rehabilitation site. There, they received medical treatment and were taught survival skills. Among them were seven-year-old Jono and three-year-old Unyil.
Jono's Ordeal and Recovery
Jono had been forced to walk on stilts—one of the most painful and difficult tricks for macaques—as well as ride bikes and push a wooden barrel. Like many monkeys exploited for dancing, his teeth had been clipped, leaving him with severe dental problems and an infection that spread to his nasal passage and ear canal. Researchers noted that Jono was initially calm and quietly followed them with his eyes after arriving at the rehabilitation centre. He quickly developed a love of food, especially bananas and mangoes, and would eat every last bite.
Unyil's Traumatic Past
Unyil was stolen from his mother as a baby and witnessed her being killed during his capture. He was then forced into captivity, where he was made to stand upright, wear clothes, hold a bucket to beg for money, and perform degrading tricks including walking on stilts, playing dead, and assuming prayer positions. After 14 months of forced performances, Unyil arrived at the rehabilitation centre underweight and terrified. He would scream whenever he saw people and was too frightened to interact with other monkeys. But rescuers said he has since become a social and mischievous macaque who enjoys sweet fruits, especially watermelon.
Release into the Wild
Footage shows the pair taking their first steps into freedom on the protected Indonesian island of Nasu Burang, 38 km off the coast of Java. Jono showed great confidence and disappeared into the dense forest moments after his transport crate was opened—something rescuers said suggested he could become an alpha male in his new group. Unyil was more hesitant, carefully inspecting his surroundings before climbing into the forest and taking one last look back at his rescuers. The pair were later seen settling into their new environment, with Jono relaxing alongside other monkeys while Unyil ate fruit he had found in the jungle.
Transporting the macaques to the remote forest was a major logistical challenge. Animal rescuers first ferried them to the island by small boat before carrying crates containing the monkeys on their backs during a gruelling four-kilometre trek through dense tropical forest. The island, managed in partnership with the Indonesian government, is covered in tropical forest and mangroves and has no human settlements, making it an ideal habitat. The monkeys were first placed in a temporary habituation enclosure—a large netted natural area designed to help them gradually adapt to life in the wild. Researchers from JAAN continue to monitor them to ensure they can successfully find food before giving them access to the rest of the island.
Ongoing Exploitation
The Cirebon centre was Indonesia's last remaining dancing monkey training facility and was dismantled with support from local authorities. However, campaigners warned that the exploitation of monkeys for entertainment remains widespread. Dr Jan Schmidt-Burbach, Director of Wildlife Research and Veterinary Expertise at World Animal Protection, said: 'Jono and Unyil will finally be able to live their lives where they belong, in the wild, with their new family. Our partners Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) and local authorities have made great progress in stamping out the dancing monkey trade across much of Indonesia over the last 15 years. Sadly, macaques continue to be widely exploited for tourism. We look forward to the day when we can celebrate a nationwide ban on dancing monkeys.'
