PRAYER LEADER RECRUITED AS ORANGUTAN KEEPER
Kanisius Jahenam was born in the village of Golo Ketak, in the sub-district of Terang, Manggarai. This man, known simply as Kanis, settled in East Kalimantan in 2001. He moved to Kalimantan with the purpose of working for a timber company, since Timber Utilisation Permits were still widely available at the time. More than 100 of these permits were still in operation by the end of 2005.
Kanisius now lives in the village of Merasa, only 16 kilometres from COP’s Center for Orangutan Rehabilitation. Previously, Kasinius worked as a prayer leader in various small Catholic worship stations throughout a number of regional villages in Kalimantan. These experiences led to his being appointed as prayer leader in Merasa’s Santo Petrus church. Every Sunday, he can be found leading worship in the small church just downstream from the village center. His perseverance as a leader has led to various developments in the church, which is now never empty of people coming to pray.
Aside from his devotion to prayer, Kasinius is also known for his love of animals. As a result, in April 2015, he was called to assist COP in their mission to save orangutans. His desire to interact directly with the animals led to his appointment as an orangutan keeper.
“Mankind and animals have the same opportunities in life, and God loves animals with the same strength that He loves humans.”
Such is the philosophy that Kasinius implements in his everyday life. When working with orangutans, Kasinius is famous for being loving and caring. At times, he has even been known to climb trees while holding baby orangutans, to teach them a love for climbing, when their parents have been injured or captured and are unable to do so.
As he says, “If we show love for animals, in turn they will love us as they do their own family.”.
Baby orangutan Michelle is further evidence of this idea. Kasinius has an especially close relationship with Michelle, which has been likened to that of a mother and child. Michelle only follows instructions from Kasinius in jungle lessons, and whenever she becomes sad she immediately seeks him out.
This case shows us that saving orangutans is not only a job, but a calling of the heart. Orangutans do not understand who we are or what our backgrounds are. What they do understand however, is the care we show for them, continuing to work to save their homes and the lives of their future generations.(KAN)
PENDOA TERPANGGIL MENJADI KEEPER ORANGUTAN
Kanisius Jahenam merupakan pria kelahiran kabupaten Manggarai, kecamatan Terang, desa Golo Ketak. Pria yang sering disapa dengan nama Kanis ini merupakan perantau di Kalimantan Timur semenjak 2001. Tujuan utama pada saat itu adalah berkerja di perusahan kayu, hal ini dikarenakan memang pada saat itu Ijin Pemanfaatan Kayu di Kalimantan masih sangat banyak. Tercatat setidaknya ada lebih dari 100 ijin penggunaan kayu yang beroperasi hingga pada akhir 2005.
Kanisius kini menetap di desa Merasa, desa yang hanya berjarak 16 km dari Pusat Rehabilitasi Orangutan COP. Sebuah kebetulan Kanisius yang dulunya pernah mengikuti pelatihan memimpin ibadah umat di stasi-stasi kecil Katolik di desa-desa terpencil kini menjadikan dia terpanggil sebagai pemimpin umat gereja Katolik di stasi Santo Petrus desa Merasa. Setiap hari minggu kita dapat menjumpai Kanisius memimpin ibadah di gereja kecil di desa Merasa bagian hilir. Ketekunannya memimpin umat Katolik ternyata membawa banyak perubahan, kini gereja Katolik Merasa tidak pernah sepi pen-doa.
Di sela kesibukannya sebagai pendoa, Kanisus pun dikenal sebagai penyayang binatang. Sehingga pada April 2015, Ia terpanggil untuk membantu COP dalam misi menyelamatkan Orangutan. Keinginannya untuk berinteraksi langsung dengan orangutan menjadikannya ia terpanggil untuk menjadi perawat orangutan atau sering disebut keeper.
“Manusia dan hewan mempunyai kesempatan yang sama untuk hidup, dan Tuhan mencintai mereka sama besarnya dengan Dia mencintai manusia.”, begitulah pemahaman Kanisius dalam menjalankan kehidupan sehari-hari. Selama menjaga orangutan, Kanisius memang terkenal sebagai penyayang dan penyabar, terkadang ia rela memanjat pohon dan menggendong bayi orangutan hanya agar bayi-bayi orangutan ini mau memanjat. Tentu saja seperti yang pernah ia katakan, “Jika kita mencintai binatang, mereka juga akan mencintai kita layaknya keluarga mereka.” Maka hal ini terbukti pada bayi orangutan bernama Michelle. Ia memiliki kedekatan khusus dengan Kanisius. Layaknya kedekatan ibu dan anak. Michelle hanya mau menuruti perintah Kanisius di setiap sekolah hutan, bahkan ketika Michelle menangis maka ia akan segera berlari dan mendekati Kanisius.
Hal ini mengajarkan kita bahwa menyelamatkan kehidupan orangutan bukan saja hanya sebuah pekerjaan tetapi pilihan hati. Orangutan tidak pernah mengerti siapa kita dan apa latar belakang kehidupan kita. Yang mereka tahu hanyalah kepedulian kita untuk terus menyelamatkan generasi nya dan hutan sebagai rumahnya.(KAN)
