| Tasikoki is a wildlife rescue centre in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, which specialises in the native primate species (Sulawesi macaques), the birds from Wallacea and Papua, as well as a variety of other endemic animals such as Babirusa.Tasikoki is a unit of the Masarang Foundation, led by Dr. Willie Smits, which strives to protect the forests of North Sulawesi for the benefit of the people, the flora and the fauna. Masarang has developed many initiatives to educate the local people and provide sustainable alternatives as well as environmental solutions locally that can have a global impact. Dr. Smits built Tasikoki at the beginning of the last decade, along with several other rescue centres across Indonesia, to provide part of the solution to help stop the illegal wildlife trade.North Sulawesi has been a hotspot for the smuggling of wildlife out of Indonesia onto the global market via the Philippines. Animals from all over the vast Indonesian archipelago have suffered this trade route. Tasikoki is therefore in a strategic location to help the authorities tackle this crime and take care of the wildlife confiscated from this trade.The rescue centre employs a team of dedicated local staff, who care for the animals as they undergo quarantine, followed by physical and mental rehabilitation in their preparation for release or sanctuary care. Alongside the rescue and wildlife rehabilitation, Tasikoki is developing education programmes locally and regionally to spread awareness of the threats being faced by Indonesia’s precious biodiversity.This work is currently led by an international team and supported by hard-working volunteers from all over the world. |