REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BALIKPAPAN -- The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) has marked the country's 73rd Independence Day commemoration by releasing six orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in the Kehje Sewen jungle, Kutai Timur, East Kalimantan. The six brought the number of orangutans set free by BOSF in the Kehje Sewen jungle.
"The wildlife also are entitled to enjoying the Independence Day celebration especially orangutan, which is the wildlife species protected by the state," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BOSF Dr Jamartin Sihite said here on Monday.
They were the 19th group released since 2012. They had been years in the Reintroduction Center in Samboja Lestari , 47 kilometers north of Balikpapan taught how to live as wild orangutans.
Dr Sihite gave stress on the importance of preserving orangutans. He said wild orangutans have important contribution to preserving forest ecosystem. Orangutans are species which move around all corners of forests that the varieties of flora in forest area better protected sustaining their regeneration.
"They scatter flora seeds through their feces. Orangutans also open a bit the canopy of forests allowing the sun ray to penetrate the forest land, helping small trees grow," Dr Sihite said.
In turn, protected forests will provide clean and fresh water and air, in addition to various forest products and keep conducive climate change, he added.
Not all of the six orangutans released came directly from the Samboja Lestari Reintroduction Center. Two of them, an 11 years old female Menur and Josta, also a 11 years old female lived for months on the island of Juq Kehje Swan, a 82.84 forest area surrounded by wide ditch and river bordering on an oil palm plantations PT Nusaraya Agro Sawit in Muara Wahau, Kutai Timur.
The other four are males - Mads (8), Riva (7), Biber (7), and Restu (6).
In the past several years, BOSF has involved many agencies and organizations in the preservation of orangutan, including banks, even those having interest in contradiction with the preservation program such as oil palm plantations.
"It is because the big conservation job could not be handled alone by BKSDA and BOSF," head of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA)of East Kalimantan Sunandar Trigunajasa said.
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