May 2019

May 11, 2019

THE APE GUARDIAN SPOTTED UNYIL IN THE RIVER

Losing orangutan tracks during post-release monitoring is normal. The next agenda will definitely start from the last point we lost it. A day, two days has passed until a week later the team finally saw Unyil the orangutan. Unyil was seen relaxing in a creek. 

The distance between the team and the orangutan tells whether the orangutan is aware of the existence of the team, or the team managed to record all orangutan activities completely. For this encounter, it turned out that the team was still too close, Unyil was aware of APE Guardian’s existence, the team that is responsible for the release of orangutans. Unyil, who has the ability to walk on the ground quickly, looked angry and chased the team. The team was made helpless. “Confronting Unyil is really exhausting. It’s better to run than to be hit or even bitten by Unyil. That will be a nightmare.”, said Bit, one of the rangers who participated.

After running far enough, the team began to turn around, observe and look for Unyil again. Again, the team lost track of Unyil. “It looks like Unyil is watching us.” Unyil is an orangutan who was illegally cared for by someone in Muara Wahau, East Kalimantan. He was treated like a human in terms of diet, even fed like a human child. However, Unyil was still kept in a 50 cm wooden box. And the cage was put in the bathroom.

The caregiver’s love for Unyil is wrong. Orangutan is a wildlife that protected by law. Its role is far more important in nature, than living in a citizen’s bathroom. We thanked the caregiver’s understanding to hand over Unyil to be rehabilitated. Help COP to save other Unyils. For more information, contact email info@orangutanprotection.com  (EBO)

APE GUARDIAN BERTEMU UNYIL DI SUNGAI

Kehilangan jejak orangutan saat monitoring paska pelepasliaran menjadi sesuatu yang lumrah. Agenda selanjutnya pasti dimulai dari titik kehilangan tersebut. Satu, dua bahkan seminggu kemudian tim akhirnya bertemu orangutan Unyil. Unyil terlihat sedang bersantai di anak sungai.

Jarak tim dengan orangutan menjadi penentu, apakah orangutan menyadari keberadaan tim atau tim berhasil mencatat semua aktivitas orangutan dengan lengkap. Untuk perjumpaan kali ini, ternyata tim masih terlalu dekat, Unyil menyadari keberadaan APE Guardian, tim yang bertanggung jawab pada orangutan pelepasliaran. Khusus untuk Unyil yang memiliki kemampuan berjalan di tanah dengan cepat, tim harus berlari menghindar dari kejaran Unyil yang terlihat marah. Tim dibuat loyo. “Menghadapi Unyil benar-benar menguras tenaga. Lebih baik lari daripada terpukul orangutan bahkan tergigit Unyil. Itu akan jadi mimpi buruk.”, ujar Bit, salah satu ranger yang ikut.

Setelah berlari cukup jauh, tim mulai berbalik arah, mengamati dan mencari Unyil lagi. Lagi-lagi, tim kehilangan jejak Unyil. “Sepertinya Unyil mengamati kami.”. Unyil adalah orangutan yang dipelihara seseorang secara ilegal di Muara Wahau, Kalimantan Timur. Dia diperlakukan seperti manusia dalam artian makan makanan manusia, bahkan disuapi seperti anak manusia.  Namun, Unyil tetap dimasukkan dalam kotak kayu berukuran 50 cm. Dan kandang tersebut dimasukkan ke dalam kamar mandi. 

Kecintaan pemelihara pada Unyil menjadi keliru. Unyil adalah orangutan yang merupakan satwa liar yang dilindungi. Perannya jauh lebih penting di alam, dibandingkan hidup di kamar mandi warga. Terimakasih atas pengertian pemelihara Unyil untuk menyerahkan Unyil direhabilitasi. Bantu COP untuk menyelamatkan Unyil-Unyil yang lain. Untuk informasi lebih lanjut hubungi email info@orangutanprotection.com (WID)

in APE GUARDIAN 0 comments
May 10, 2019

HERCULES TRICK, THE BUILDER

How is Hercules? Hercules which was once the largest, dashing and authoritative in the Unmul Samarinda Botanical Garden (KRUS)? Unfortunately, his development is surpassed by orangutans of the same age like Oki and Untung, who have now been released back into their habitat. Then how is he after being withdrawn from the pre-release island of COP Borneo?

Hercules who lost the competition, had to spend his days in the quarantine cage of the COP Borneo orangutan rehabilitation center, Berau, East Kalimantan. The medical team tried hard to improve his health which had fallen sharply. But the development of his behavior has not changed much.

Hercules in a cage is not much different from Hercules on the island. Every morning and evening when an animal nurse comes to his cage to feed him, he will try to make a nest from the remains of corn husk in her hammock. Just like on the island when he is about to be fed, Hercules looks busy making nests from the grass around the orangutan feedlot.

“Les … come down Les. cage washing is done. Now it’s time to eat. No need to pretend to build a nest again. “, Said Steven, the animal keeper. Then in a few moment later Hercules came down from his hammock to eat.

Is ‘making a nest’ just a trick from Hercules to get fed? Hmmm … we’ll see. (EBO)

TRIK HERCULES, SI PEMBUAT SARANG

Apakabarnya Hercules? Hercules yang dulunya paling besar, gagah dan berwibawa di Kebun Raya Unmul Samarinda (KRUS)? Sayang, perkembangannya didahului orangutan seumurannya seperti Oki bahkan Untung yang kini sudah dilepasliarkan kembali ke habitatnya. Lalu apakabarnya Hercules setelah penarikannya dari pulau pra-pelepasliaran COP Borneo?

Hercules yang kalah bersaing, harus menghabiskan hari-harinya di kandang karantina pusat rehabilitasi orangutan COP Borneo, Berau, Kalimantan Timur. Tim medis berusaha keras memperbaiki kesehatannya yang sempat merosot tajam. Namun perkembangan tingkah lakunya tak banyak berubah.

Hercules di kandang tidak jauh berbeda dengan Hercules di pulau. Setiap pagi dan sore saat perawat satwa mendatangi kandangnya untuk memberi makan, dia akan berusaha membuat sarang dari sisa-sisa kulit jagung di hammocknya. Sama seperti di pulau saat dia akan diberi makan, Hercules terlihat sibuk membuat sarang dari rumput-rumput yang ada di sekitaran tempat pemberian pakan orangutan.

“Les… turun Les. Cuci kandang sudah selesai. Sekarang waktunya makan. Tidak perlu pura-pura buat sarang lagi.”, sahut Steven, animal keeper yang bertugas. Tak menunggu lama, Hercules pun turun dari hammock untuk makan. 

Apakah ‘membuat sarang’ itu hanya trik Hercules agar diberi makan? Hmmm… kita lihat saja nanti. (FLO)

in APE DEFENDER / COP Borneo 0 comments
May 8, 2019

SCHOOL VISIT AT BINUS SERPONG

Tuesday, May 7 2019 COP had the opportunity to conduct a school visit program at the Binus Serpong school. The event was rescheduled to the next day because of the holiday fasting. The mini library hall was almost fully filled when the COP team arrived. They were teenagers from 11th grade who seemed eager to listen to information about orangutans. 

The one and half hour session ran smoothly with presentation and fruitful discussion. There are many questions from students, especially what they can do. They are interested in the adoption concept which allows them to be directly involved in saving orangutans. As a follow up to the session, the students created campaign posters to save orangutan.

After the session ended, Tristan and Gideon, representatives from the Student Council came to the COP team to elaborate ideas. Currently they are organizing a fundraising activity called HOPE, where they put empty bottles at various points in the school to be filled with donations. They have chosen 4 potential recipients of donations where the plan is one of them is COP. We also talk in more detail about what students can do to help. The discourse to conduct a field visit to Borneo COP also surfaced. “The live-in program in the Dayak village and the visit of the COP rehabilitation center is very possible, but we need to finalize the concept so as not to disturb the rehabilitation program itself, also other preparations should be done. At present the most immediate benefit is the adoption and donation program. There are orangutans like Owi, Happi and Popi who are in our adoption lists.”, Ebo, Education Specialist from COP, explained. “Owi, there is HOPE from Binus Serpong!” (EBO)

 

KUNJUNGAN KE SEKOLAH BINUS SERPONG 

Selasa, 7 Mei 2019 COP berkesempatan melakukan program school visit di sekolah Binus Serpong. Jadwal acara sendiri diundur sehari karena liburan awal puasa. Aula mini perpustakaan sudah hampir terisi penuh saat tim COP datang. Mereka adalah 200an remaja-remaja dari kelas 11 yang tampak semangat untuk mendengarkan informasi terkait orangutan.

Presentasi sendiri berlangsung sangat cair, tidak terasa satu setengah jam berlalu dengan presentasi dan tanya jawab. Ada banyak pertanyaan dari siswa terutama apa yang bisa mereka lakukan. Mereka tertarik dengan konsep adopsi yang memungkinkan mereka bisa terlibat langsung dalam penyelamatan orangutan. 

Setelah sesi berakhir, Tristan dan Gideon, perwakilan dari OSIS mendatangi tim COP untuk bertukar pikiran. Mereka sendiri sedang mengorganisasi kegiatan yang dinamai HOPE, dimana mereka meletakkan botol-botol kosong di berbagai titik di sekolah untuk diisi donasi. Mereka telah memilih 4 calon penerima donasi di mana rencananya salah satunya adalah COP. Kita juga berbicara lebih mendetail kira-kira apa yang bisa siswa lakukan untuk membantu. Wacana untuk melakukan kunjungan lapangan ke COP Borneo juga mencuat. “Program live in di perkampungan Dayak dan kunjungan pusat rehabiltasi COP itu sangat dimungkinkan, namun kami perlu mematangkan konsepnya supaya tidak mengganggu program rehabilitasi itu sendiri serta persiapan-persiapan lainnya. Saat ini yang paling langsung terasa manfaatnya adalah progam adopsi dan donasi. Ada orangutan Owi yang sedang mencari orangtua asuh, juga Happi dan Popi.” Terang Ebo, Education Specialist dari COP. “Owi, ada harapan (hope) dari Binus Serpong!” (EBO)

in APE WARRIOR 0 comments
May 5, 2019

UNTUNG SURVIVES IN HIS HABITAT

Fruit season is the best time to release orangutan to its habitat. However, it does not last forever. The season will also end and change. When it ends it will be a difficult time for the released orangutans.

Untung and Unyil are rehabilitated orangutans that released back to their habitat. We are quite satisfied with the release point in early April 2019. Trees around the release point were bearing fruit and abundant food. As natural food gets fewer, Untung and Unyil are seen moving to explore the forest which is a new habitat for both.

“Both orangutans are seen eating young leaves, tree cambium and occasional ant nests.”, Said Reza Kurniawan, primate expert at the Center for Orangutan Protection. Found in separate places, both Untung and Unyil frequently drink in the creek. Untung was also seen eating young flowers and leaves around the creek. “We call it water apple,” said Yosep Wan, the ranger who filled the orangutan feed data. The trees are not high and the flowers are abundant, making Untung liked to spend a long time in the river. Untung ate it heartily, the flowers he chewed sounded so delicious.

Only around 4 pm, the team lost track of Untung again. Untung ran away from the rangers because he avoided bees that attacked him. He grabbed a tree branch quickly and moved from one tree to another, until the team could no longer see him. (EBO)

UNTUNG BERTAHAN HIDUP DI HABITAT BARUNYA

Musim buah adalah masa yang paling tepat untuk melepasliarkan orangutan rehabilitasi. Namun, itu tidak bisa berlangsung sepanjang waktu. Musim buah juga akan berhenti dan berganti. Saat itu akan menjadi masa yang sulit bagi orangutan rehabilitasi.

Untung dan Unyil adalah orangutan rehabilitasi yang dilepasliarkan kembali ke habitatnya, cukup puas dengan titik pelepasliaran di awal April 2019. Pohon-pohon di sekitar titik pelepasliaran sedang berbuah dan makanan melimpah. Seiring semakin menipisnya pakan alami, Untung dan Unyil terlihat bergerak menjelajah hutan yang merupakan habitat baru untuk keduanya. 

“Kedua orangutan terlihat makan daun muda, kambium pohon dan sesekali sarang semut.”, ujar Reza Kurniawan, ahli primata Centre for Orangutan Protection. Ditemukan dalam tempat terpisah, baik Untung maupun Unyil memperbanyak minum di anak sungai. Untung juga tercatat makan bunga dan daun-daun muda di sekitaran anak sungai. “Kalau kami menyebutnya jambu air.”, kata Yosep Wan, ranger yang mengisi data pakan orangutan. Pohonnya yang tidak tinggi dan bunganya yang melimpah membuat Untung betah berlama-lama di sungai. Saking lahapnya Untung makan, bunga yang dikunyahnya terdengar begitu lezat.

Baru sekitar pukul 16.00 WITA, tim kehilangan jejak Untung lagi. Untung berlari menjauhi ranger karena menghindari kawanan lebah yang telah menyerangnya. Ia meraih ranting pohon dengan cepatnya dan berpindah dari satu pohon ke pohon yang lainnya, sampai tim tak lagi bisa melihat batang hidungnya. (WID)

in APE GUARDIAN 0 comments
May 4, 2019

ALOUISE TOOK REFUGE IN SEPTI

Alouise took part in a forest school class several times. But repeatedly, his behavior made other orangutans avoid him. Such as not wanting to let Annie out of his arms, pulling bigger orangutans until finally no orangutans would want to get close to him. What makes it more difficult is this exclusion made Alouise choose to play alone and stay alone at the forest school location.

His small body and very high climbing ability really made it difficult for animal keepers at the COP Borneo forest school. Alouise seemed to disappear in the thick of the forest school. “If he doesn’t move, we don’t know of his whereabouts,” Jevri said.

After weeks full of drama Alouise did not have friends and stayed at the jungle school finally Alouise could make us breathe a sigh of relief. “We tried to introduce Alouise to Septi, a female orangutan who had been a sister to Popi. Small orangutans do need a protective figure. As the body and age get stronger, he will be more independent later.”, said Reza Kurniawan, the primatologist of orangutans.

Septi accepts and looks after Alouise. “This has been going on for almost 2 weeks, I just saw it once, Alouise played alone, and even then it didn’t last long. When I approached Alouise, he immediately went to Septi, “Jevri said again.

Like mother and baby orangutan, in the wild, children will not play away from their mothers. When there is danger approaching, the orangutan will run to his mother. Like a human child too, who always looks for his mother when she starts feeling alone. Alouise took refuge in Septi. (EBO)

ALOUISE BERLINDUNG PADA SEPTI

Beberapa kali Alouise mengikuti kelas sekolah hutan. Tapi berulang kali, tingkahnya membuat orangutan lainnya menghindar darinya. Mulai dari tak mau melepas Annie dari pelukannya, menarik orangutan yang lebih besar darinya hingga akhirnya tak satupun orangutan mau berdekatan dengannya. Lebih menyulitkan lagi pengucilan ini membuat Alouise memilih bermain sendiri dan menginap sendiri di lokasi sekolah hutan.

Tubuh nya yang kecil dan kemampuan memanjatnya yang sangat tinggi benar-benar menyulitkan para animal keeper di sekolah hutan COP Borneo. Alouise seperti menghilang di lebatnya sekolah hutan. “Jika dia tidak bergerak, ya kita tidak mengetahui keberadaannya.”, ujar Jevri.

Setelah minggu-minggu penuh drama Alouise tidak punya teman dan menginap di sekolah hutan akhirnya Alouise bisa membuat kami bernafas lega. “Kami mencoba mengenalkan Alouise pada Septi, orangutan betina yang pernah menjadi kakak untuk Popi. Orangutan kecil memang membutuhkan sosok pelindung. Seiring usia dan tubuhnya yang semakin kuat, dia akan lebih mandiri nantinya.”, ujar Reza Kurniawan, primatologis orangutan.

Septi pun menerima dan terlihat menjaga Alouise. “Ini sudah berlangsung hampir 2 minggu, saya baru melihat sekali, Alouise bermain sendiri, itupun tidak berlangsung lama. Ketika saya mendekati Alouise, dia langsung beranjak ke badan Septi.”, ujar Jevri lagi. 

Seperti induk dan anak orangutan yang di alam liar, anak tidak akan bermain jauh-jauh dari ibunya. Ketika ada bahaya mendekat, anak orangutan akan berlari ke ibunya. Seperti anak manusia juga, yang selalu mencari ibunya saat mulai merasa sendirian. Alouise berlindung pada Septi. (WET)

in APE DEFENDER / COP Borneo 0 comments
May 2, 2019

APE GUARDIANS RAN FRANTICALLY

Monitoring or observing orangutan activities after the release of Untung and Unyil this time, really made the team almost gave up. These two orangutans have made the monitoring team run in chaos. We call this team the APE Guardian team.

When the release, APE Guardian team for Untung first informed us that Untung’s cage had been opened. Only 420 meters away, the APE Guardian for Unyil team gave a signal, Unyil’s cage was ready to be opened. As predicted earlier, both Untung and Unyil ran towards the tree and climbed it. But not long after that, Untung climbed down and began chasing. As soon as possible, the monitoring team and even the transporting cage carriers ran away from Untung.

“It’s normal for orangutans who have undergone the rehabilitation process to still follow humans. They only need to go through adaptation again in a new environment, where humans are no longer friends, but something they must avoid. “, Said Reza Kurniawan, a primatologist at the Center for Orangutan Protection.

The APE Guardian team worked hard to avoid Untung and Unyil. Including jumping into a creek with depths of more than 1 meter. Of course they hoped that these two orangutans would be reluctant to chase. “Damn, they are not afraid of water,” said Yusak, one of the rangers.

Already soaked in the creek, still we have to run because of being chased by orangutans. The sky began to darken, Untung and Unyil seemed tired of playing chases. Unyil climbed into the tree and soon no visible movement from him, but Untung was still playing on the ground even though he was no longer chasing. “Monitoring these two orangutans is really physical draining.” (EBO)

APE GUARDIAN LARI KALANG KABUT

Monitoring atau kegiatan memantau orangutan setelah pelepasliaran orangutan Untung dan Unyil kali ini, benar-benar membuat tim nyaris angkat tangan. Kedua orangutan ini membuat tim patroli kalang kabut berlarian. Kami menyebut tim ini sebagai tim APE Guardian.

Tim APE Guardian orangutan Untung terlebih dahulu menginformasikan, kandang Untung telah dibuka. Hanya berjarak 420 meter, tim APE Guardian orangutan Unyil memberi aba-aba, kandang Unyil siap dibuka. Seperti prediksi sebelumnya, baik Untung maupun Unyil berlari menuju pohon dan memanjatnya. Tapi tak berapa lama kemudian, Untung turun dan mulai mengejar. Secepatnya, tim monitoring bahkan tukang pikul kandang angkut lari terbirit-birit untuk menghindari kejaran Untung.

“Ini hal yang biasa bagi individu orangutan yang telah menjalani proses rehabilitasi masih terlihat mengikuti manusia. Mereka hanya perlu melalui adaptasi lagi di lingkungan yang baru, dimana manusia bukanlah teman lagi, tapi adalah sesuatu yang harus dihindarinya.”, ujar Reza Kurniawan, primatologis Centre for Orangutan Protection. 

Tim APE Guardian bekerja keras untuk mengurangi intesitas kejaran Untung maupun Unyil. Salah satunya dengan menyeburkan diri di anak sungai yang kedalamannya lebih dari 1 meter. Tentu saja harapannya agar kedua orangutan rehabilitasi ini enggan mengejar. “Sial, mereka tidak takut air.”, ujar Yusak salah satu ranger.

Sudah basah kuyup karena monitoring orangutan sambil berendam di anak sungai masih saja harus berlari karena dikejar orangutan. Langit mulai gelap, Untung dan Unyil namaknya sudah bosan bermain kejar-kejaran. Unyil naik ke pohon dan mulai tidak ada pergerakan, namun Untung masih bermain di tanah meski tak lagi mengejar. “Monitoring kedua orangutan ini sungguh menguras fisik.”. (WID)

 

in APE GUARDIAN 0 comments
May 1, 2019

WHEN BABY BITES LANDED SMOOTHLY (1)

Bitten by an orangutan baby? How does it feel? Babies are cute, cute and adorable. Are you sure???

There are currently 9 orangutan babies at the Borneo COP Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, Berau, East Kalimantan. Orangutan babies have physical and behavioral characteristics similar to human babies. The difference is that orangutan babies have 10 teeth when they are one year old, including canines. You can imagine when they want to play or feel disturbed and do biting actions, right?

Baby orangutan bites landed smoothly on your skin, this commonly experienced by baby sitters and medical team. Usually, new baby orangutans enter the quarantine cage for the first time. This is an orangutan baby self-defence mechanism.

Orangutan babies experienced past trauma before arriving at the rehabilitation center, when they were forced to escape from their mothers. It could be that the mother was brutally murdered before their eyes. In fact, the orangutan mothers will not part with their children before their children are ready to live their own lives in the forest. The child is separated from the mother when she or he is 6-8 years old. (EBO)

SAAT GIGITAN BAYI MENDARAT DENGAN MULUS (1)

Tergigit bayi orangutan? Bukan tergigit tapi digigit bayi orangutan. Gimana rasanya? Bayi kan lucu, imut dan menggemaskan. Yakin???

Saat ini ada 9 bayi orangutan di pusat Rehabilitasi Orangutan COP Borneo, Berau, Kalimantan Timur. Bayi orangutan memiliki karakter fisik dan perilaku yang mirip dengen bayi manusia. Bedanya, bayi orangutan sudah mempunyai 10 gigi saat berumur satu tahun termasuk gigi taring. Bisa dibayangkan saat mereka ingin bermain atau merasa terganggu dan melakukan tindakan gigit-menggigit, bukan? 

Kejadian gigitan bayi mendarat dengan mulus sudah biasa dirasakan baby sitter maupun medis. Biasanya, bayi orangutan yang baru masuk ke kandang karantina untuk pertama kalinya. Ini merupakan usaha bayi orangutan mempertahankan diri. 

Trauma masa lalu sebelum bayi orangutan sampai di pusat rehabilitasi, dimana dia secara terpaksa lepas dari induknya. Bisa jadi, induknya dibunuh secara kejam di depan matanya. Faktanya, induk orangutan tidak akan berpisah dengan anaknya sebelum anaknya siap menjalani kehidupan sendiri di hutan. Anak baru terpisah dengan induknya saat berumur 6-8 tahun. (FLO)

in APE DEFENDER / COP Borneo 0 comments