Hey, Ilkomers! Have you ever come across social media content showing animals dressed up in cute costumes, being spoon-fed human food, or posed like humans for photos? Such content often sparks laughter and adoration, painting an illusion of harmony between humans and animals. Yet behind those seemingly entertaining scenes lies a heartbreaking reality, the loss of freedom suffered by animals forced to adapt to the human world. This very concern is what moved Iwan, a 2022 Communication Studies student at Universitas Padjadjaran, to amplify change through his writing.
Iwan is a final-year student currently juggling multiple research projects while completing his thesis. Despite his academic workload, he remains active in organizations and other extracurricular activities. During his studies, he served as the Head of the Student Affairs Department at HIMA Ilkom Unpad and participated in several committees, one of which, is the Wildlife Journalism Competition. That experience introduced him to wildlife conservation issues and made his interest in environmental topics begin to grow, particularly in the conservation of Indonesia’s primates.
This passion led him to join a popular science writing competition organized by the Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI). The competition focused on the conservation of Long-Tailed Macaques (Monyet Ekor Panjang) and Pig-Tailed Macaques (Beruk), two primate species vulnerable to exploitation and illegal trade. In this competition, Iwan wrote an article titled “The Illusion of Affection: The Reality of Keeping Illegal Primates,” which won 2nd place out of a total of 175 submissions.
Iwan’s article explores how social media trends have normalized the act of keeping primates as pets. Through a small-scale study, he found that various online posts showing primates dressed up, eating like humans, or playing in a domestic setting conceal the underlying exploitation taking place. One example he highlighted was a viral video of a Long-Tailed Macaque forced to participate in a “cracker-eating” contest during Indonesia’s Independence Day celebration. For Iwan, this served as clear evidence of how human entertainment often comes at the expense of wildlife freedom.
In writing his piece, Iwan combined digital observation with interviews involving various stakeholders, from veterinarians to NGOs engaged in conservation. However, the process came with its own set of challenges. Reaching out to informants across different regions was not easy, but through persistent digital communication and networking, he managed to gather the data he needed.
Iwan’s work goes beyond criticizing the act of keeping primates, it also reflects on the social and ecological consequences of human behavior that disrupts natural balance. He emphasizes that behind the “cute” and entertaining content lies the suffering of animals deprived of their habitat and freedom. Moreover, such practices also pose risks to humans, as primates kept as pets can transmit zoonotic diseases, illnesses spread through contact with wild animals. Through his writing, Iwan seeks to educate the public to be more mindful in consuming and producing digital content related to wildlife. He underscores that showing love for animals doesn’t always mean owning them, but rather respecting their right to live freely in their natural habitat.
Iwan’s achievement also aligns with the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly on Goal 15: Life on Land, which focuses on protecting biodiversity and restoring terrestrial ecosystems. Through his popular research and writing, Iwan demonstrates how communication students can play a vital role in connecting environmental issues with the public through educational and reflective approaches. May Iwan’s achievement inspire other Ilkomers to speak up and become more aware of environmental issues around us!