BOSF releases orangutans to natural habitats

BALIKPAPAN. The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) released six more orangutans to their natural habitats on Monday, bringing the total number of the critically endangered species released to 100 individual animals since 2012.

“We dedicated this activity to celebrate World Habitat Day, which falls every Oct.7,” said BOSF program manager Agus Irwanto on Monday.

The six orangutans released were Acong, Agus, Inge, Mayang, Noel and Siwie.

The orangutans were flown from Balikpapan to Kehje Sewen Forest in Muara Wahau, East Kutai, at 11 a.m. local time, on Monday.

Earlier, BOSF staffers and officials brought the orangutans from Samboja Lestari, a conservation area located 50 kilometers away from the north of Balikpapan to Sepinggan airport, via land travel, which took around one-hour.

Kehje Sewen Forest is around 600 kilometers from the north of Balikpapan. From Balikpapan, it takes 60 minutes on a Grand Caravan-type Cessna aircraft to get to Muara Wahau airport in Miau.

From Muara Wahau airport, the orangutans were taken to Kehje Sewen via helicopter.

“Due to the long-distance travel and other arrangements, each release costs Rp 600 million (US$52,800),” said Agus.

Currently, more than 500 orangutans are being treated in Samboja Lestari. Of the total, 75 percent of them can be released to their natural habitats. (ebf)