Rescued Orangutan Released Into Protected East Kalimantan Forest
- 28 Sep 2026 14:03 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- A 25-year-old male orangutan spotted along a mining haul road was rescued after months of monitoring in East Kutai.
- The healthy 51.6-kilogram orangutan was released into the protected Kehje Sewen Forest on September 18.
RRI.CO.ID, Samarinda - A 25-year-old male orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) that captured widespread attention on social media after being spotted roaming along a corporate hauling road in East Kutai Regency has been safely rescued and returned to the wild.
The East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA Kaltim) in collaboration with the Conservation Action Network (CAN) rescued the 51.6-kilogram primate on September 17 following months of intensive monitoring that began in July.
"The male orangutan was in healthy condition and still exhibited wild behaviors, allowing us to immediately release him back into his forest habitat," said Head of BKSDA Kaltim M. Ari Wibawanto in Samarinda on Monday, September 28, as quoted by Antara.
Wildlife rescue teams, supported by forestry concession management from PT SRH, deployed thermal drones and field tracking units after multiple sightings of the large primate near heavy transport corridors were reported to authorities. Field teams evacuated the animal on September 17 upon locating him near the edge of the haul road, neutralizing immediate safety risks for both the animal and corporate workers.
Paulinus Kristanto, founder of CAN, noted that public reports of a large male orangutan frequenting the concession area had been circulating since June, requiring weeks of tracking before successful intervention could take place.
Following a thorough medical evaluation, veterinarians declared the orangutan active, healthy, and possessing a strong appetite, making him an ideal candidate for immediate translocation. On September 18, the joint team released the primate into the Kehje Sewen Forest in Muara Wahau District, East Kutai, a secure, protected habitat equipped to sustain wild orangutan populations. ***
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