This morning, on November 3rd, 2018 the Director of Biodiversity Conservation, drh. Indra Exploitasia, M.Sc, began the release of two orangutans from COP Borneo rehabilitation center. Orangutan conservation in Berau has been supported by many stakeholders, especially the local community. We involved locals to create a traditional ceremony before beginning the release process.
The difficulty of going through the low tide of the Kelay river and the heavy of the transport cage did not ruin the enthusiasm of our APE Guardian team. There was a silence when Mr. Sunandar Trigunajasa, head of the Natural Resources Agency (BKSDA) East Kalimantan, opened a cage carrying Leci. Only in seconds, Leci runs and climbs the tree. 100m later, he stopped between forest canopies.
Then the second cage was opened by Mr. Ahmad Saerozi. Just like Leci, Novi ran and immediately climbed a tree, following Leci. Shortly thereafter, Leci and Novi continued their journey. The monitoring team quietly followed both of them.
“The process was so fast. Luckily the APE Guardian team had practiced enough before. Two orangutans with different backgrounds, but the same rehabilitation period, will have a different reaction to nature”, said Reza Kurniawan, APE Guardian captain.
Novi had been kept as a pet in Kongbeng, East Kalimantan. Meanwhile, Leci were wild but young when he arrived. They were expected to carry out their functions in the forest. Orangutans are the best forest farmer ever. The wide roaming of orangutans and their diversity of food makes orangutans have an important role in nature. (IND)
NOVI MERAIH POHON PERTAMANYA DAN PERGI BERSAMA LECI YANG SUDAH MENUNGGU
Pagi ini, 3 November 2018 Direktur Konservasi Keanekaragaman Hayati, drh. Indra Exploitasia, M.Si, memulai pelepasliaran dua orangutan dari pusat rehabilitasi COP Borneo. Konservasi orangutan di Berau mendapat dukungan dari banyak pihak terutama masyarakat sekitar, upacara adat pun mengawali proses pelepasliaran kali ini.
Sulitnya melalui sungai Kelay yang agak surut dan beratnya kandang angkut orangutan tak sedikitpun menyurutkan semangat tim APE Guardian. Suasana hening saat Sunandar Trigunajasa, kepala Balai KSDA Kalimantan Timur membuka kandang angkut orangutan Leci. Hanya hitungan detik, Leci berlari dan memanjat pohonnya. 100m kemudian, dia berhenti di antara kanopi.
Kemudian kandang kedua dibuka oleh Ahmad Saerozi. Sama saja seperti Leci, Novi pun berlari dan langsung memanjat pohon menyusul Leci. Tak lama kemudian, Leci dan Novi melanjutkan perjalanan mereka. Tim monitoring dengan sigap mengikuti mereka berdua.
“Proses tadi begitu cepat. Untung saja tim APE Guardian sudah cukup berlatih sebelumnya. Dua orangutan dengan latar belakang yang berbeda ini, namun masa rehabilitasi yang sama akan menjadi catatan tersendiri.”, ujar Reza Kurniawan, kapten APE Guardian.
Novi yang sebelumnya pernah dipelihara warga Kongbeng, Kalimantan Timur dan Leci yang liar namun berusia muda diharapkan bisa menjalankan fungsi nya di hutan. Orangutan adalah pelaku reboisasi terbaik yang pernah ada. Daya jelajah orangutan dan keanekaragaman makanannyalah yang menjadikan orangutan punya peran penting di alam.
