Why I'm Choosing to Protect Wildlife in Indonesia

I think this is a really valid question, and it’s something I have been asked a few times. And it deserves a full and detailed explanation from me, given that it could well be argued I should be doing more to help the wildlife in my own country, rather than those the other side of the world.

Before I explain, I think it's important to say this: helping wildlife isn't a competition. Choosing to help in one place doesn't mean caring any less about another. There are extraordinary people dedicating their lives to protecting wildlife in the UK, just as there are people doing the same here in Indonesia. This is simply where I believe I can make the greatest contribution.

Because of course, there are so many animals in need in the UK, and animal cruelty is not only limited to Indonesia or even South East Asia. So let me do my best to try and explain why it is that I have chosen to invest my energy here instead of working to protect UK wildlife.

So I think the starting point in answering this is, is understanding that I never actually came to Indonesia to work with animals… that all happened by accident. Some of you may have seen my YouTube video (it’s here on my website https://www.eachonewild.com/about)  where I explain how I came across a baby monkey who had been captured, and who I took in and then reached out for help from Bali Monkey Rescue. Around two weeks later I found another young captured monkey and helped to rescue her also – again totally by accident (or universal plan depending upon your belief system). And I have worked with Bali Monkey since these two rescues.

Before all of this, I honestly had no idea that monkeys were captured and kept as “pets” in horrific conditions. Well, I suppose the truth is I just never gave it any thought. I mean, why would you as you go about your daily life in England.

And what I then came to understand was just how few laws there are in place to protect long tail macaques in particular. Primates such as the orangutan are classed as critically endangered and are protected by law. But there is very little in place to protect the long tails, which I believe is at least in part, due to the high levels of conflict between the macaques and humans.

Macaques are often seen as a nuisance to many people as they can be both destructive and aggressive.  Because of the continued habitat loss, macaques (who are natures born survivors and very adaptable) are naturally gravitating more to urban areas so that they are able to get food and find new homes. In doing so they often cause a lot of chaos and destruction, so the human/primate conflict escalates.

Imagine for a moment that you have just built a lovely new villa, and you plan to use the income from it to support your family. Then a troop of wild macaques moves in and rips the entire roof off, and perhaps you don't have the money to replace it. I have personally seen examples like this, and they can understandably lead to real conflict between people and macaques. I believe this may be one of the reasons why the authorities don't always view these animals as ones to protect, but instead as animals that need to be managed.

The UK has spent decades developing animal welfare legislation and enforcement. Those protections exist because countless campaigners fought for them. In Indonesia, the situation is different, with different legal frameworks, different priorities, and far fewer resources dedicated to protecting some species. This is one of the reasons I chose to be here—working alongside local organisations to advocate for animals that, in my experience, often have very little protection.

Another, perhaps more selfish reason that I chose to be in Indonesia over the UK is that, I came to realise I adore primates in particular. I suppose most of us have a favourite animal, and if given the choice we would want to work with whatever animal that is. Well I didn’t know it before, but I came to realise that primates are indeed my favourite animals. There is something about their intelligence, the way they form relationships (with each other and with humans) and their overall behaviours that just lights a little fire inside me. And I do feel extremely protective over them for sure. Now I have the chance to help rescue and protect monkeys, so why wouldn’t I chose to do that given my feelings towards them. As the saying goes “do a job you love and you’ll never work another day in your life”. For me that is 100% true.

The more time I have spent in Indonesia, the more I have come to realise the true scale of the issues surrounding animal cruelty, in particular the illegal pet trade.

I am very aware that this is also an issue in the UK, with exotic animals being brought over and kept unlawfully as pets. And actually, I did try to look at jobs in the UK where I would be working to fight the illegal pet trade. But jobs are few and far between and I would have had to have gone back to university and/or train as a police officer to be offered a role.

Here however, not only do I not need to be a police officer, but by working with partner organisations, we have the opportunity to actually prevent animals from hitting the pet trade market. Through intercepting the trafficking of animals, and working to protect the habitats of endangered species, I have a real chance of helping to stop animals being captured and sold at source – not after the event has happened and the animals have already arrived in the UK.

And not only that… by effectively protecting habitat loss, which is the main goal of the Each One Wild Foundation, I really do believe that we can help to prevent the extinction of some of the most endangered animals in the world. This includes orangutans, the Asian tiger and rhinoceros and elephants.  Imagine that you had a chance to be a part of something so important, something so wonderful, and choosing not to. It just makes no sense, and the reality is that I simply cannot be as involved in projects like this when I am in the UK. But I can here and this is why I need to be here.

It’s probably worth me stating at this point that I am not delusional, and I do realise I cannot stop all animal cruelty or change the whole system. It isn’t something I deal well with in truth, as I do want to rescue every single animal we find, and I do want to completely stop the illegal pet trade and deforestation. I even lose sleep some nights with my frustrations that the need is so great and so vast and I feel like I am not doing enough. But by being here in Asia, and being able to work directly with my own charity, and other established foundations means that I can at least be proactive and can do my part to help protect the animals and wildlife here.

Those close to me will know that my initial plan two years ago had been to travel the world with Emily (back in the days when I had a nice fat bank account) swimming with turtles and just making memories. But life took me in a very different direction and I do not believe in accidents, so I am inclined to believe this has all happened for a reason – that I am meant to be here and am meant to be doing this work.

As a closing note, I want to share my personal gratitude to all of those people who are in the UK fighting to save native wildlife, habitats and protecting all the animals who live there. The work these people do is phenomenal and so, so important. The animal protection laws we have in the UK are there because animal rights activists and advocates fought to get these laws put in place, and these laws are pivotal in the continued protection of animals in the UK.

But sometimes we have to go where the wind takes us and where we feel drawn to, and for me, right now that is Indonesia. Because as I sit here writing this blog, I truly do believe I can be a part of a much needed change here… helping to prevent cruelty to primates and animals, and the loss of irreplaceable rainforests and habitats.

Maybe one day my work will bring me back to helping wildlife in the UK.

But for now, my heart is here… among the rainforests, the primates, and the people working every single day to protect them.

So for now... Indonesia it is.

Wish me luck.

I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

Laura x