Indonesian Conservation Media Center

Orangutan Integrated Conservation in Wanariset Samboja East Kalimantan

      Wanariset Samboja is one of the places for orangutan reintroduction, authorized by the letter of decree from the Director General of Forests Protection and Nature Conservation Number 132/Kpts/DJ-VI/1994. The orangutans that undergo the release process originated from many sites and were rescued from forest fires, confiscations from the authorities or the animals voluntarily handed over by the local people.

      Orangutan integrated conservation with orangutan reintroduction is one of conservation efforts that is integrated and systematical in putting back the animals into their natural habitat. The conservation effort is said to be integrated because it involves many disciplines, and it undergoes stages of action starting from quarantine to introduction to their natural habitat in Kalimantan tropical forests. Besides that, the effort is said to be systematical because it has to undergo tiered stages, starting from the arrival process to the release to the natural habitat. The integrated process or conservation stages for orangutans are as follow:

A. Quarantine

                  This early step is started with the handover of the orangutan to the Wanariset Samboja management. The next thing is the history data collection of the orangutan, including its origin, diets given before, habits, and favorite activities. After that, it will be given a medical examination starting from physical examination, blood test, faecal examination, urine test and genetic examination. Following the health examination process is the measurement of limb and the collection of nails and hair samples. After undergoing those processes, orangutans will be isolated until their status is free from all diseases. If an orangutan is found to be ill, then it will be given medication until it recovers and after that it will undergo a socialization process.

B. Socialization Process

This process is an adaptation process to the orangutans’ new living environment. This process begins with the orangutans of the same age and weight are grouped together. The next thing is the introduction to their natural diet, by giving leaves and fruits from the forest. The use of leaves here is not only as a dietary source, but also as materials to build nests. Physical training is also given to train orangutans to do their activities in the wild, such as climbing and swinging. During this step, observation and monitoring in the orangutans progresses are also done, such as physical enhancement progress, interaction with other orangutan and their capability in recognizing their kinds of food. Enrichment activities are also done to know their physical and intelligence development in meeting the condition of their new environment. If they are qualified enough, the next thing to do is the training process in the half way house.

C.        Half Way House

            This process is carried out in the real forest that is used for early introduction to the life in the natural habitat to the orangutans. During this step, orangutans will try to learn kinds of edible trees and the way to survive and how to build their own nests. Besides that, orangutans can also learn how to avoid the threats they find.

D.        Release

            Orangutan can be released into the wild when they have met the requirements: free from all kinds of disease, weighing 15 kg or more, fulfilling observation standards which have been set, undergoing 6 months training or more. The requirements for the release sites are; the site can ecologically support the lives of the orangutans (with adequate water supply and plenty of fruit trees); large; it is a forest reserve; and is save from human settlements and forest browsers (clearers).

The time for the release is better at the beginning of the fruiting season so that the success level can be high.

 
Source:

Heriyanto. 2001. Pelestarian Terpadu Primata Orangutan di Wanariset Samboja Balikpapan Kalimantan Timur dalam Konservasi Satwa Primata. Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan dan Kehutanan Universitas Gadjah Mada. Yogyakarta.