Jakarta animal market for the morbidly curious

MEEJogja

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Years ago I read about the biggest bird market in the world (in Jakarta) and it sparked my interest. Unfortunately however I know nothing about, and have very little interest in birds. While in Jakarta for a meeting this weekend I gave a central animal market a visit though and here is a general overview of whats being sold to the pet trade commonly. I will not really comment on the animal welfare side of things. I think we can all agree on that aspect. Whether sold or not these animals don't have long.

Spoiler alert, there is not much in the way of tortoises. There were sulcatas which I didn't photograph, assuming I would come across something more interesting. I also did not photograph many birds or fish, which constituted most of the animals here.

Firstly, just an insane number of monkeys. These macquaques' native range does not extend to java, they are an invasive species here... Which is the only positive of this situation. $30 each before negotiations.

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The second very common thing was owls and bats. These do not seem like practical pets to me. Can you imagine the husbandry required to keep them properly?
Flying foxes and various scops owls below. Both native and near threatened locally.
Owls are $20 a piece. Did not ask about the bats.

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Fighting cocks, probably the most expensive things here.

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Next we have luwaks (Asian palm civets) ($40), Sumatran flying squirrels ($20) and baby Asian mongooses ($10).

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Lots of sugar gliders
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Reptile wise lots of non native iguanas, some common or captive bred pythons and various other snakes.

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Turtle wise, we most commonly found near threatened Asian box turtles ($10) and RES ($2-$3)
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BUT, when asking around about tortoises, I was invited into a shop where they had Sulawesi forest turtles... Critically endangered but not yet protected by law here. He wanted $90 for the pair. This is the species I am most interested in, but cannot sanction purchasing from a source like this.
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Oh and sent through WhatsApp after I exchanged numbers and left... Fly River turtles. Endangered and protected here.
 

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Tom

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Wow. Thank you for the tour man. Lots of mixed emotions on this one. I know what it takes to care for primates and raptors. Iv'e raised macaques before. And lots of birds too. I sincerely hope they all go to good homes and receive proper care.
 

Thomas tortoise

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Bruhhh. Monkeys for $30? And asian box turtles for $20? Man I would have bought one of everything. Except for the bat. I read that their poop is poisonous to breath in. 😂 and I always wanted a pet owl...
 

MEEJogja

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Wow. Thank you for the tour man. Lots of mixed emotions on this one. I know what it takes to care for primates and raptors. Iv'e raised macaques before. And lots of birds too. I sincerely hope they all go to good homes and receive proper care.
Unfortunately @Tom what you see is what you get in many cases. Most of these animals will live out their lives in cages. The monkeys will be lucky if they are collared and chained to a tree :/
 

jeff kushner

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Mee, that took some stealing if the heart, just to look at the pics....and they weren't nasty at all. Thanks for keeping out the gory...it's rough 1st thing in the morning when I'm having my coffee.

I learned long ago as a traveler that people, no matter where they are, will exploit ANY natural resource for "money".

It really doesn't matter is it's a Waterfall formation in a small country in the Caribbean that they have roped off and guide tourists to, tickets to the top of the Empire State building , fishing trips in Fla, tours to Corcovado in Rio, outrageously priced "Eco-tours", $ for a shuttle to a special pretty site in Arizona, swimming with sharks in Belize. people "sell" anything Nature has to offer, to make money......always the common denominator.

It's the most "Equal Opportunity" thing in the world, not based on creed, race or nationality..........people exploit...........until the cost outweighs the benefit to THEM! The guy selling baby monkeys for 100 baht, really doesn't give a flying about "endangered" anything. He hasn't found any other way of earning money. Or maybe, selling animals is easier than his other options.
 

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