Witness History Jakarta’s ban on dancing monkeys
Aug 14, 2025
Femke den Haas, a passionate Dutch animal rights activist and co-founder of the Jakarta Animal Aid Network, shares her inspiring journey to end the exploitation of dancing monkeys in Jakarta. She recounts the harrowing experience that triggered her activism, particularly the plight of a monkey named Johnny. Femke details the campaign that led to the 2013 ban and the subsequent efforts to rehabilitate and relocate the affected monkeys, highlighting the emotional transformations these animals undergo as they learn to thrive in a natural environment.
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Johnny: A Rescue Promise
- Femke Den Haas first saw Johnny chained, dressed and forced to perform at busy traffic lights, and promised to rescue him.
- That memory became the driving story behind her campaign to stop roadside monkey performances in Jakarta.
Systemic Exploitation Behind Performances
- Dancing monkeys were part of a wider system: wild-caught babies trained in centres then rented out by bosses.
- The trade exploited both animals and handlers trapped in debt to organisers.
Training Conditions Caused Trauma
- Training centres kept macaques in tiny dark boxes, seeing daylight only when performing.
- Such conditions caused severe physical and psychological harm that campaigners documented on camera.