Conservation Agency in Aceh Evacuates Orangutan Trapped in Palm Plantation

TheIndonesia.co - The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) in Aceh province has evacuated an orangutan that was trapped in an oil palm plantation in East Aceh regency.

Head of BKSDA Aceh Agus Arianto revealed that after receiving reports from locals about an orangutan trapped within the plantation area, an evacuation team was quickly deployed.

“We received the Information regarding one orangutan that was trapped in the palm plantation on Sunday [May 15] afternoon. Based on that, we immediately sent a team to evacuate the protected animal,” Arianto said on Thursday, May 19, as reported by Antara.

The plantation is located in North Julok Rayeuk farming village, Indra Makmur subdistrict, East Aceh regency, and is owned by state-owned PT Perkebunan Nusantara I.

Joining the evacuation team was personnel from Langsa Natural Resources Conservation and the Human Orangutan Conflict Response Unit (HOCRU).

Upon assessment, it was concluded the 24-year-old male orangutan was in a healthy condition and weighed about 35 kilograms.

“The team also carried out COVID-19 rapid antigen test, and the result was negative,” Arianto explained, adding that the test was necessary to prevent the orangutan from spreading the virus to other animals in its habitat.

Upon health assessment and negative COVID test result, the BKSDA decided to release the animal into a protected forest area in Pante Jeumpa village in Aceh Tamiang regency.