One Dead Orangutan Dragged By Flood In Gayo Lues Aceh

The SPTN Team Region III Blangkejeren examined the carcass of an orangutan that died when dragged by the flood. (ANTARA/HO- SPTN Region III Blangkejeren)

BANDA ACEH - One Sumatran orangutan (pongo abelii) was found dead by floods in the Gunung Leuser National Park area, Pungke Jaya Village, Putri Betung District, Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh.

Head of the National Park Management Section (SPTN) Region III Blangkejeren Gunung Leuser National Park Center Ali Sadikin said the dead orangutan was estimated to be one to one and a half years old.

"One individual orangutan was found dead by floods in Pungke Jaya Village, Putri Betung District, Gayo Lues Regency, on Thursday (22/2)," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, February 23.

The finding of the dead orangutan began with checking the SPTN team Region III Blangkejeren after the flood in the Gunung Leuser National Park area in the Putri Betung area on Wednesday (21/2) night.

"The flood was caused by the overflow of the flow from the Alas River. The team monitored the area because it was included in the Gunung Leuser National Park area," he said.

According to Ali Sadikin, the flood area is included in the rehabilitation zone. Checks are carried out to determine whether the flood has something to do with illegal activities in protected areas or not.

"After we monitored and observed, the team did not find any connection with flooding with illegal activities such as illegal logging. The wood that the flood carried was a rotten Tunggul," he said.

When the team monitored the area, there were community reports regarding the discovery of dead orangutans. The location of the discovery is about two kilometers from the Alas River.

Then, the team moved to the location where the dead orangutan was found. At the location, the team observed that the protected animal with male and adolescent sex is estimated to be one to one and a half years old.

From the results of the examination, the orangutan's death was purely due to being dragged by the flood. It is estimated that the orangutan fell after the tree where it nested fell due to the flood.

"When found, the condition of the orangutan's body was convex, allegedly due to swallowing water. Moreover, orangutans are not typical of animals that can swim. Agreements with the community, the carcasses of orangutans are immediately buried," said Ali Sadikin.