Orangutan Evacuation BKSDA Officers Trapped In Subulussalam Aceh Palm Oil Plantation

BANDA ACEH - The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) evacuated an individual Sumatran orangutan (pongo abelii) who was trapped in an oil palm plantation at Simpang Kiri, Subulussalam City, Aceh Province.

Head of the Aceh BKSDA Gunawan Alza said the orangutan was female, approximately three years old. When evacuated, the condition when protected was healthy and stable.

"The orangutan was evacuated to a quarantine and rehabilitation center in Batu Mbelin, Sibolangit, North Sumatra, in order to obtain intensive care and comprehensive observation," Gunawan said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 6.

Gunawan said the evacuation involved the Conservation Section Team for Region II Subulussalam BKSDA Aceh together with a team of partners. The evacuation took place in Dano Tras Village, Simpang Kiri District, Subulussalam City, Aceh Province, on Tuesday.

Gunawan said the rescue of protected animals began with reports from residents. Residents informed that one individual orangutan was trapped in an oil palm plantation.

Based on this information, the BKSDA team together with partners made a rescue and took him to the Subulussalam Region II Conservation Section Office.

"We appreciate and thank the people who reported the existence of the orangutan, so that rescue steps were taken. We also thank and appreciate all those who support the orangutan evacuation process," he said.

Gunawan said Sumatran orangutans are protected animals. Therefore, BKSDA urges the public to preserve orangutans by not destroying the forest which is their habitat.

"We also remind the public not to arrest, injure, kill, maintain, trade orangutans or other protected animals, whether alive or dead because they can be punished according to the applicable law," said Gunawan Alza.