Biology Program

The Biology Program has two main activities, namely the biology research of Indonesian primate animals in captivity & in their natural habitat. Primate species in captivity PSSP (long tail monkeys Macaca fascicularis, M beruk, nemestrina, tangkasi Tarsius sp., Coucang sp. Slow loris and other captives such as Sumatran & Borneo orangutans, Pongo abelii, P. pygmaeus, proboscis Nasalis larvatus, Javan Gibbon Hylobates moloch at Ragunan Zoo, Schmutzer Primate Center and Taman Safari Indonesia, Cisarua Bogor, and primate species in natural habitats that are the focus of the study include M. fascicularis long-tailed monkey, tangkasi Tarsius sp., Sumatran orangutan & Kalimantan P abelii, P. pygmaeus,

Research activities carried out on an ongoing basis are the creation of biological data banks and genetic characterization of populations within colonies & in nature to ensure the sustainability of primate species. In addition to getting primate animals as animal models for certain diseases genetic information is needed regarding the functional genes involved. Thus the determination of target genes needs to be done by using a molecular approach. To support conservation programs and release of orangutans into their natural habitat from rehabilitation centers or captivity, identification of subspecies is absolutely necessary. Diagnostic testing techniques based on the PCR technique combined with RFLP (use of restriction enzymes), are the most rapid and efficient method developed.