It’s almost comical to watch this little creature. Its movements are so slow, and it seems rather foolish at first glance. How could it not? It can remain perched on the same tree branch for an incredibly long time, and when a flashlight shines on it, it often just stays still—as if it has no intention of escaping.
This animal is known as the Mentilin, and if you’ve ever seen a tarsier, you’ll notice the resemblance. With its small body and large, round eyes, it has quite a fan base. Unfortunately, its habitat is shrinking rapidly due to human activity. If this continues, it’s not impossible that this nocturnal species will disappear entirely from our planet.
The Mentilin, scientifically named Cephalopachus bancanus bancanus, is found only on Bangka Belitung Islands and parts of Sumatra, making it an endemic species there. It’s no surprise that the Bangka Belitung provincial government uses its image as a symbol of the tin-producing islands.
According to a 2017 study, the Mentilin population in Bangka Belitung numbered in the thousands. They inhabit regions such as Zed, Kemuja, Paya Benua, and Petaling. Petaling has the largest population, with about 1,078 individuals recorded. Zed has the smallest, with only around 90. Kemuja hosts 296, and Paya Benua has 348. But given the continuous loss of their habitat, these numbers are likely to have declined since then.
From mountains to oceans, delivered to you. Follow us on Lingkar Bumi WhatsApp Channel.
“Mentilin habitats are being replaced by mining operations, plantations, and residential areas,” said Randi Syafutra, a conservation researcher from Universitas Muhammadiyah Bangka Belitung.
Randi shared this during the discussion Mentilin: The Tiny Creature Active at Night, hosted by Mongabay Indonesia on Instagram Live, Thursday, October 17, 2024.
The situation is concerning. While Bangka is well-known as Indonesia’s largest tin producer, Randi stresses that this should not come at the expense of species like the Mentilin.
A Vanishing Home
Bangka is now also known as the “Island of a Thousand Kulong.” Kulong refers to the countless abandoned tin mining pits scattered across the land. Their sheer number reflects how much of the island’s forest has been transformed into mining areas. And with every forest lost, so too disappears the Mentilin’s home.
“Mentilins are actually beneficial to humans. One of their roles is controlling insect populations in Bangka Belitung, as they feed on insects that could otherwise harm crops,” Randi explained.
Given the situation, Randi suggests that local governments and communities must work together to find solutions—such as limiting deforestation in Mentilin habitats, supporting farmer-owned rubber forests that can also serve as their home, and developing eco-tourism. Night tours to observe Mentilins in the wild, for example, could become a sustainable source of income for Bangka Belitung, offering an alternative to the destructive practice of tin mining. (Sulung Prasetyo)
