Sumatran Orangutan Trapped In Residents' Gardens, Aceh BKSDA Uses A Stun Gun For Evacuation

The Aceh BKSDA team and partners evacuated an individual orangutan in Aceh Besar. BETWEEN/HO

ACEH - The Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has evacuated a Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) trapped in a resident's garden in the Blang Mee area, Lhoong sub-district, Aceh Besar district.

Head of the Aceh BKSDA Agus Arianto said the orangutan was male, approximately 11 years old and in good health.

"The evacuation was based on information from the public who reported that an individual orangutan had entered a community garden in Gampong Lamkuta Blang Mee, Lhoong District, Aceh Besar Regency on March 2, 2022," said Agus Arianto in Banda Aceh, Antara, Friday, March 4.

The evacuation was carried out with partners on March 3, 2022. The evacuation was carried out with a stun gun, involving the Sustainable Ecosystem Foundation (YEL) team, the police, the Koramil, and the local community.

"After checking the condition of the orangutan and it was declared healthy, then the protected animal was taken to the Orangutan Reintroduction Center in the Nature Reserve, Jantho, Aceh Besar District," said Agus Arianto.

Agus Arianto said the Sumatran orangutan is a protected animal. The Sumatran orangutan is only found on the island of Sumatra and is now in critical condition and at high risk of extinction in the wild.

BKSDA, said Agus Arianto, invites the community to preserve the orangutans by not destroying the forest which is their habitat. Including capturing, injuring, maintaining, and trading in both life and death.

"We express our gratitude and appreciation to the community who have reported the existence of the orangutan and the parties to help evacuate or save the protected animal," said Agus Arianto.