Nature Alert: Species Officer WWF Indonesia said Orangutans in National Park Lake Sentarum Living Head 500

Sunday 16 November 2008

Species Officer WWF Indonesia said Orangutans in National Park Lake Sentarum Living Head 500

Dijurnal Science News
The News Science and Scientific
Sunday, November 16, 2008

Species Officer WWF Indonesia said Orangutans in National Park Lake Sentarum Living Head 500

(dijurnal) Pontianak. The number of orangutans in the National Park Lake Sentarum (TNDS), Kapuas Hulu regency decreased drastically than 10 years ago. Currently, the number of orangutans in the area is estimated only about 500 head.

This was disclosed Species Officer for WWF-Indonesia region Putussibau, Albertus Tjiu, Sunday (16/11). According to him, the changes in natural conditions around the region habitat suspected to be the main declining orangutan population in the area.He added, to know the latest data on the number of orangutans TNDS needed survey and monitoring of the incentives.

He said, TNDS have a high density level for the orangutans because the shelters with 130 thousand hectares wide, but the whole area suitable for the primate.While the National Park Betung Kerihun (TNBK), with 800 thousand hectares wide, but suitable for only half the orangutan.

The number of orangutans in 1030 ranged TNBK tail. Albertus said, they also find the orangutan population is maintained around the area TNDS. "Initially kept, but when we came to the same place some time later, the orangutan is transferable," he said.Currently, the area around the TNDS a place for oil palm plantations by the local government. Price one for the baby orangutan in the Kapuas Hulu regency around Rp500 thousand Rp1 million.

Meanwhile, in Ketapang, which is cheaper Rp300 thousand a head.Albertus said, only people who still maintain the orangutan babies or children. "If it is mature, the orangutan is difficult to maintain because of the large body size," he said. To get a baby orangutan, the parent must be killed first. "So if there is a baby orangutan in the tail, then the community can be its mother has died or were killed first," he said. (Mediaindonesia/dijurnal)
http://dijurnal-science-news.blogspot.com/2008/11/species-officer-wwf-indonesia-said.html

Hall of Shame for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Palm Oil Industry.

Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the systematic extermination of orangutans by the government of Indonesia.

Look at the photos and news articles on these pages in the context of a statement the President made to the media on 10th December 2007.

“In the last 35 years about 50,000 orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely face extinction by 2050,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the launch of an orangutan conservation plan at the climate talks in Bali.

“The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests … To save the orangutan we have to save the forest.”

Statements like these are most welcome, but unless backed up by action, such words fall on deaf ears within the Ministry of Forestry....who are busy granting licences to cut down the very forests the President says they should protect!

When you think you are to busy to help, please could you reflect for a moment on .........

The following extract refers to environmental problems in general. I just hope you find it as thought provoking and relevant to orangutans as I have.

"This is such a shocking and unpalatable fact that most people deny it, or they just don't want to think about it. They believe as individuals, they can do little about it, so push it to the back of their minds. But I can't do that.

When something has to be done, we need to do it. It doesn't matter how big the challenge is or how hard the solution; if I know something is wrong, and I am in a position to help, I will do my best to make it right." Duncan Bannatyne, successful British businessman.