North Sumatra BBKSDA Receives One Sumatran Orangutan From West Java

The North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center received an individual Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abeli) from West Java Province. (ANTARA/HO)

MEDAN - The North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) received an individual Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abeli) named "Kaka", a male, aged three from West Java (Jabar).

Acting Head of the West Java KSDA Center, Hendra Wijaya, said Tuesday that the orangutan departed from Soekarno-Hatta Airport using Garuda Indonesia aircraft GA-0182 and arrived at Kualanamu International Airport, Deli Serdang.

Hendra said the orangutan was the result of a voluntary surrender by a resident in Bogor. After going through a persuasive approach by the West Java BBKSDA task force team, finally the residents who kept the protected animal handed it over to the officers on January 7, 2022.

"Furthermore, the orangutan was entrusted with the Animal Rehabilitation Center of the Indonesian Nature Rehabilitation Initiation Foundation (YIARI) in Ciapus-Bogor," he said, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 31.

At the YIARI Rehabilitation Center, Kaka underwent treatment and a number of health checks. For further identification purposes, a blood sample was examined at the Eijkman Research Center for Molecular Biology on 23 February 2022.

Meanwhile, from the genetic tests carried out, it is known that the orangutan is in good health and comes from Sumatra in the northern part of Aceh, so it must be immediately released into the wild to its place of origin.

The orangutan will then undergo examination and rehabilitation at the Orangutan Quarantine and Rehabilitation Center in Batu Mbelin, Sibolangit, which is managed by the North Sumatra BBKSDA partner institution, the Lesatari Ecosystem Foundation (YEL-SOCP).

"After going through a measurable assessment, the orangutans will be released into the reintroduction location that has been determined by the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation," said Hendra.

Meanwhile, Plt Balai Besar KSDA Sumut Irzal Azhar said the Sumatran orangutan is one of the most endangered and protected wild animals.

According to him, according to Article 21 paragraph (2) letter (a) Jo Article 40 of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, everyone is prohibited from capturing, injuring, killing, storing, possessing, maintaining, transporting and trade in protected animals alive or dead. The criminal sanction is imprisonment for a maximum of five years and a fine of Rp. 100,000,000.,-

"Currently the Sumatran orangutan population is estimated to be decreasing, based on 2016 Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) data, it is estimated that there are 14,630 Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abeli) scattered in Aceh and North Sumatra. Pongo tapanuliensis) which inhabits the Batang Toru Ecosystem in North Sumatra with an estimated population of 577-760 individuals," said Irzal.