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Forest police investigate orangutan shooting in Central Kalimantan

Palangka Raya, Ekuatorial – Special Responsive Police Forest Task Force of Central Kalimantan, known simply as SPORC, will be investigating on current killing of an adult female orangutan in plantation area located in Parenggean of Kotawaringin district, said its commander, Irwansyah, on Saturday (6/12).

On Wednesday, a-20-year-old female orangutan was found in severe condition by employees of PT Surya Inti Sawit Kahuripan (SISK), a palm oil company and also a subsidiary of Makin Group. She was found at Block F37 – Afdeling 7 by Seno, one of the employee, with two arms and legs broken. In addition, as much as 40 bullets were found in her body, — ten bullets in the head, eight bullets in her left leg and hip, 18 bullets in her right leg and hip, and six bullets in the chest and right hand –.
Medical team of Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS Foundation), a rehabilitation center located in Nyaru Menteng, tried to save her life but the wounds were too extensive. She died in the next day.

Irwansyah, SPORC Brigade Commander, said that they will dispatch public servant investigators of SPORC to the field and investigate cause of death based on autopsy result.

Based on Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) data, there were nine conflicts between humans and orangutans in the province, in 2014.

“Conflicts between orangutans and people or companies must be prevented. So, when there are reports [of orangutans spotted in their areas], rescue team in the field need to move fast to evacuate them,” said Nandang, head of BKSDA, to Ekuatorial, on Saturday (6/12).

CEO of BOS Foundation Jamartin Sihite said 166 orangutans found in Makin Group plantation areas with 100 orangutans trans-located to safer forest areas, 19 orangutans died and 47 orangutans were still in rehabilitation. “From those 47 orangutans, 44 of them can be released [to their natural habitat]. They’re still waiting to be released,” said Sihite.

Orangutan is protected under the 1990 Law on Natural Resources Conservation and its Ecosystem. In addition, its protection is mandated under Indonesian Orangutan Strategy and Conservation Action Plan 2007 – 2017 launched by then President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Bali Climate Conference, in December 2007.

Furthermore, Sihite said that orangutan shooting in Parenggean was only a small part visible and known to those who care about animals, especially orangutan. “It is not impossible there are more orangutans died or evicted due to massive oil palm plantation expansion in Central Kalimantan,” he said.

He said that orangutan protection also needed support from government and private sector. “If one knows or spots orangutan entering housing areas or companies. Please report [to authorities] so they can be evacuated in safer place,” he added. Maturidi

Read also :
40 gun shots killed orangutan in Central Kalimantan
Massive encroachment pushing orangutan Kalimantan to the ocean
Not only humans, orangutans affected by forest fires in Kalimantan

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