West Kalimantan BKSDA Investigate Orangutan Death In North Kayong

Orangutan In North Kayong/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) officers investigated the cause of death of an individual orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) in the Riam Berasap Village area, Sukadana District, North Kayong Regency, West Kalimantan.

"Currently, the West Kalimantan BKSDA is localizing the crime scene and conducting further investigations regarding the death of orangutans in Riam Berasap Jaya Village with the Environmental and Forestry Law Security and Enforcement Center (BPPHLHK) for the Kalimantan Region Section III Pontianak and West Kalimantan Police," said Head of the West Kalimantan KSDA Hall RM Wiwied Widodo, Sunday, July 14.

He said BKSDA officers and the Gunung Palung National Park Center and the medical team of the Indonesian Animal Rescue Foundation (YIARI) on July 10, 2024 received information on the death of an individual orangutan in the region.

After officers arrived at the location, it was found that the carcass of one individual orangutan estimated to be 19 to 20 years old and found as well as an individual female orangutan, estimated at the age of 4 to 5 years hanging over a tree.

"The results of the physical examination in the field, it is known that the orangutan carcasses have wounds on the lower back," said Wiwied.

To find out the cause of the orangutan's death, officers necropsy the orangutan carcass with the results found wounds on the lower back with a width of 3 cm and a depth of 7 cm indicated being exposed to sharp objects.

Meanwhile, in orangutans, there were injuries to the legs, so the team decided to carry out rescue and take care of the orangutan rehabilitation center in Ketapang Regency to recover its condition first before being returned to natural habitat.

Based on conservation status, "The International Union for Conservation of Nature" (IUCN) has included orangutans in the list of endangered species since 1994. This species is also included in the list of protected animals of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems.