The long-tailed macaque, the world’s most trafficked primate, is threatened with extinction: its natural habitat, the rainforests of the Indonesian island of Simeulue, is rapidly disappearing. To counteract this, Lush is launching the „Hutan“ (Indonesian for forest) bath bomb, which also launches the company’s new „Keystone“ product range, dedicated to the conservation of endangered keystone species. Lush will donate 75% of the sales price (less tax) to the non-profit EcosystemImpact Foundation. This foundation is working with local organizations—including the Long-Tailed Macaque Project—on a three-year project to preserve primary forests and biodiversity on Simeulue, the long-tailed macaque’s habitat.
Bathing for a good cause: On March 20, Lush launched the new „Hutan“ bath bomb – a bath additive shaped like a long-tailed macaque. With this product, Lush is ushering in a new era of its fundraising strategy: The „Hutan“ bath bomb is the first product in the new „Keystone“ range, dedicated to the protection of so-called keystone species. Lush is committed to always carrying at least one rotating „Keystone“ product in its range.
What are keystone species? These special species have a disproportionate impact on their ecosystem relative to their population. They play a central role in maintaining ecological structure and biodiversity. You could say they are the glue that holds the system together. If their population declines or they are missing altogether, this has significant effects on the entire ecosystem.
The long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) is one such keystone species. On the island of Simeulue, it plays a crucial role in the conservation of primary rainforests—that is, untouched forest areas. By dispersing plant seeds—either by dropping or excreting them—it helps sow new plants and fertilize them. It acts as a natural „ecosystem engineer“ and contributes to the conservation of primary rainforests.
There are only a few of these left in the world – Simeulue is one of the last islands in the world still covered by primary rainforest. The increasing deforestation and clearing of the rainforests is significantly reducing the macaques‘ habitat, leading to increasing human-wildlife conflicts.
These conflicts contribute to the growing threat of poaching to these monkeys. As the world’s most trafficked primate species, long-tailed macaques are often captured and sold as exotic pets, used for biomedical research, or even killed.
The Hutan Bath Bomb from Lush To counteract this, Lush will be selling the new „Hutan“ bath bomb (price: €6.50) in the shape of a long-tailed macaque starting March 20, 2025. 75% of the sales price (less tax) will go directly to the non-profit EcosystemImpact Foundation in Indonesia, which works on conservation projects in Sumatra.
With the donations, EcosystemImpact, together with local organizations such as the Long Tail Macaque Project, is supporting a three-year project to protect primary forests and biodiversity on Simeuluë. The funds raised from the sale of the bath bombs will be used to monitor the forests, implement regenerative agriculture, support social forestry projects, and combat poaching and human-macaque conflict on the island.
Silvi Dwi Anasari, Community Ranger Coordinator at EcosystemImpact, explains: „Protecting wildlife and their natural habitats is not just about preventing extinction, but also about preserving a home for all of us, where we can live side by side on our planet Earth.“
Hutan Bath Bomb
What’s in it for you? – Olibanum, also known as frankincense, has been used in aromatherapy for centuries. Its complex, woody scent invites you to pause, breathe deeply, and relax, while soothing and moisturizing the skin. The ideal companion for an evening bath. – The vibrant scent of bergamot, with its invigorating citrus aroma, can help relieve tension and ease anxiety.
Fotocredit: EcosystemImpact
