Over 23,000 Orangutans Live in Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan Forests

PALANGKA RAYA, KOMPAS.com – Head of the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Nur Patria Kurniawan said that more than 23,000 orangutans live in Central Kalimantan forests on the island of Borneo.

“The Environment and Forestry Ministry has released (information) that more than 23,000 orangutans are living in the forests of Central Kalimantan,” State News Antara quoted Kurniawan on Monday, Aug. 22.

Central Kalimantan has the largest population of this top primate in Indonesia. He added according to the peat ecosystem category, the number of orangutans in the province is the largest in the world.

Therefore, the Central Kalimantan BKSDA called on the people to nurture the forests and the environment to help sustain the orangutans.

Also read: Animals Gone Wild: Orangutan Evacuated after Entering Village in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

The Central Kalimantan BKSDA continues to intensify campaigns to increase awareness of the need for the protection of orangutans in the community.

For instance, he said, the Central Kalimantan BKSDA conducted World Orangutan Day activities titled “Orangutans live in the forest” for two days in Palangka Raya.

During the event, educational campaigns were carried out through activities such as talk shows, quizzes, and coloring competitions themed “Orangutans and the environment.”

It also featured theatrical, dramatic, and musical performances, Kurniawan said.
“We want to involve many parties, including the general public and children as the country’s next generation,” he added.

Many people are not much concerned and do not understand that orangutans are protected wildlife.

Orangutans, which are mammals, also carry infectious diseases and ectoparasites or parasites that live on the skin of the host, he said.

“Orangutans are carriers of diseases like hepatitis and tuberculosis (TBC) that can be transmitted to humans. In addition, it is also a protected animal so it is prohibited to be kept, let alone traded,” he said.

Source: State News Antara