JACKO, VICTIM OF DAMAGED ECOSYSTEM

Jacko is my gold phyton snake( usually found in untouched mangrove forest ), original indonesian rare and endangered species. He didn’t live anymore in mangrove forest, because most of mangrove in Jakarta has been destructed for reclamation and damaged by human for many reason. The destruction of the rest of Jakarta’s mangroves by mankind, however, is progressing extensively and intensively in a massive manner.Jacko is the victim of city development. He is now living in peace ( but I don’t think he is happy ) in Safari Garden , Cisarua, Bogor, West Java… He is the most amazing wild animal I ever seen and have…He was found in rice field in suburb bank in north Jakarta. At that time he was about 6 meters long. He was caught by two Indonesian. They were planning to sell Jacko , because they know that Jacko is rare species and has a good price if sold to collector. The first man ask to his friend to stay at where they found Jacko while he was looking for a cage and help to take Jacko out from there…

Back from searching for help, he found that his friend has gone with Jacko…. And he was so angry, and he directly chase him with sword in hand… and finally they fight for Jacko and the first man almost killed his friend with his sword… so very bad injured…Jacko was also very bad injured and was bleeding. In short… Police caught the first man, and poor Jacko become evidence….Jacko was brought to police station, where evidence is normal to be kept in Police station… but they don’t want to accept Jacko, they just said they don’t have budget to care Jacko. The court didn’t want to take care Jacko too…

Jacko’s condition was so bad and dying. I lived only couple block from the police station. I adopted it and named it Jacko and Jacko became my pet… not usual pet…frankly speaking scary pet. Unbelievable…. Jacko is so nice, and he changed my perspective about snake. He knows his new name is Jacko and he knows when we call him…. If we call him, he will open his eyes slowly and moving… he never scares anybody but still scary… He was feed by myself 6 alive chiken a week in his big wood cage. And he has bath once a week. He always sleeps after meal time for one week . He enjoys bath time a lot… ( I think so ) From Jacko’s perspective, he must think his life is so boring… coz he cant hunt…. Cant go here and there… only in 2m3 cage. I enjoyed having a good time with Jacko…but not my Dad, who always against me about Jacko as a pet…For him was ridiculuos and stupid to have wild animal as a pet, while at that time i had already 2,5 years old son…

Dang… I got pregnant… and for my Dad there was the right reason to kick out Jacko from home for my kid’s safety reason. Jacko was growing so fast after 4 years from 6 m became 10 meter long…. And so fat… coz no exercise… Dad pushed me to give Jacko to the zoo, but the zoo don’t want to accept him, due to lack of budget and facility… poor Jacko… and I called Safari Garden for Jacko…. Surprisingly, they want to accept Jacko… We made appointment 2 times… first to check Jacko condition by Safari Garden Vet and 2^nd to pick up Jacko… Jacko was in prime condition and I was crying when they brought Jacko…

After one month , I got a phone call from the Safari Garden, telling me that Jacko was sick and didn’t want to eat in one month and they asked me to come and see him… I directly went to there.. and visit Jacko…. When I called his name, believe me, he opened his eyes, blinked…. moving forward to me And I feed him… with my own hands… he ate 8 chiken in couple minutes….. He surprised all the staff with our bound… He must make adjustment from cozy living in hot and humid North Jakarta to chilled mountain air in Cisarua , Bogor. He is now 12 m long ( one of the longest ever found and growing in cage) still safe in cozy with warm heater in Safari Garden.I am so happy and proud if my friend tell me that they just back from safari garden and saw my Jacko healthy…

Big thanks to Safari Garden Cisarua Bogor for their help ...