Since the Dutch era in Indonesia, dancing monkey is one of the famous entertainment in the community, primarily in East Java, Central Java and West Java. In Javanese culture it is called “Ledhek Kethek” and “Tandhak Bedhes”. Behind all the excitements and joy bringing to the children, the fact is that the dancing monkey have gone through lot of tortures. Around the age of 8 to 9 months old, the monkeys are usually taken and trained already. They are trained in a tortured manner for a long time until the monkey gets used to it. To keep the monkey walking straight, their hands are tied and their neck always chained for hours on the road. Worst part is that the monkey doesn’t even fed in order for them to keep on training. And many monkeys who’s not strong enough or practicing well, they die from the cruelty. While some of the clever monkeys will be sold or rented to the perpetrators of the dancing monkey.

As time goes on, eventually in 2013 the former government of DKI Jakarta, Pak Jokowi tried to confiscate and buy all the monkeys used for the attraction and handed over to Ragunan zoo. Many positive responses from the community to the city administration plan. While the people who use monkeys to support their lives will be given coaching by the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta about the danger of the disease transmission of wild animals.

The rescued monkeys will be quarantined in advance to determine the condition of the monkey’s health. General check-ups include checking for hepatitis, tuberculosis, HIV. The monkey rescue effort used for this dancing monkey should be followed by all Provincial Government throughout Indonesia, so that no more monkeys are treated roughly. In addition, efforts to save the monkeys conducted by the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta will increasingly give awareness to the public how dangerous it is, so it can reduce the incidence of disease in humans due to disease transmission from wild animals.

Many Indonesian children remember the attraction of the man with a monkey performing shows near their houses. The monkey wears funny clothing reminiscent of army men, police or riding a small toy motorcycle. Technology and the arrival of other entertainment alternatives has reduced interest and the watchers of the Topeng Monyet decreased.

Controversy and criticism has began due to the focus on protection and the increasing activity of animal rights activists. The Topeng Monyet atraction has been relegated to being beside traffic lights and areas with foot traffic however it continues to perpetuate the illegal trade of animals and of taking protected animals from their natural habitats.

Topeng Monyet is history is an outdated and dark part of Indonesian history so help prevent more pain for these animals and protect their rights, Behind the joy the children find in watching the performances lies a sad story of torture and animal cruelty.