Orangutan Population on Brink of Extinction: West Kalimantan

By Barrie | May 25th, 2007 | 2 Comments »

Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) population in the Betung Kerihun National Park (TNBK) is on the brink of extinction due to poaching and illegal logging activities. Species Officer of the WWF-Indonesia`s Putussibau office Albertus Tjiu said that illegal logging activities had pushed orangutan further into the jungle.

“The latest issue threatening the orangutan habitat in Kapuas Hulu district is the planned opening off oilpalm plantation. Investors are eyeing forest areas along the 805-km long river in the border area,” Albertus Tjiu said Wednesday.

The human encroachment would threaten the habitat of orangutans, which might approach human settlement areas, he said.

“The next threat will be orangutan hunting with many excuses, such as for the needs of meat, just for hobby or trading,? he said.

According to the 2004 data based on the Orangutan Population and Habitat Viability Assessment, the population of Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus was 7,936 heads, (14,10 percent of the total population of orangutan species), Pongo pygmaeus morio 15,406 heads (27,40 percent), and Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii 32,906 heads (58,50 percent), he said.

A research expedition in the Kerihun Betung National Park, Sibau and Embaloh, showed that most of the orangutans lived outside the national park, namely in the protected forests and industrial forests as the Antara News article reports.