4 Orang Utan Muncul Di Permukiman Warga Di Tabalong, BKSDA Kalsel Falls Tim Pantau

A large monkey animal or forest person appeared around Habau Village, Tabalong Regency, South Kalimantan some time ago. (ANTARA/HO-BKSDA South Kalimantan)

SOUTH KALIMANTAN - The Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) of South Kalimantan Province (Kalsel) dispatched a special team to search for four orangutan animals identified at three points in Tabalong Regency and its surroundings.

Acting Head of South Kalimantan BKSDA, Suwandi, said that initially a pair or two orangutans were found to have appeared in residential areas in Habau Village, Tabalong Regency, a few days ago.

Then identified three habitat points in Tabalong Regency, Hulu Sungai Utara, and Hulu Sungai Tengah.

"The results of identification in the field and coordination with villagers, we suspect this pair of large apes has two children. Until now, two children have never appeared but there are signs of their existence being found," he said when confirmed in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, Tuesday, April 23, as reported by Antara.

He said, since the first time he appeared, the orangutan had appeared three times. Previously, the great ape had never appeared in the South Kalimantan region.

"We assign the team to monitor intensely and guard, if at any time these great apes reappear in residential areas and their surroundings, they can immediately take further action," he said.

Suwandi explained that his party sent a team as the main step to monitor orangutan activities at the three identified location points. Furthermore, coordinating with the South Kalimantan Forestry Service, Tabalong Forest Management Unit (KPH), district government, and village officials.

Regarding the orangutan's genetics, he revealed that he could not conclude whether it had genetic similarities with orangutans from Central Kalimantan and East Kalimantan Provinces. However, it is a provisional suspicion that it is likely that the great ape is the original habitat of South Kalimantan.

Based on the identification results, he continued, it is very likely that the orangutans are not immigration from neighboring provinces. And until now there have been no reports of victims being injured, only a few plants in the residents' gardens were damaged because they were visited by the large apes.

Suwandi has asked his staff to coordinate with the district government to protect the area around the last appearance of the orangutan.

He also appealed to the public if they found signs of the appearance of orangutans, not injured and immediately contacted the contact of the South Kalimantan BKSDA or the nearest village apparatus.

"We ask that orangutan habitats are not disturbed, and their emergence areas can be protected by local governments and local communities," said Suwandi.