VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Twenty six orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) have been released into their natural habitat over the past seven months by Indonesia's Environment and Forestry Ministry and its partners in Kalimantan Island.

Six of the 26 orangutans were released by the BOS Foundation, Environment and Forestry Minister, Siti Nurbaya, told members of Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR) at a hearing session in Jakarta on Wednesday. Commission IV oversees agriculture, forestry, and maritime activities.

The minister said the remaining 20 orangutans were released into their natural habitat by the Orangutan Foundation International YIARI.

Six baby orangutans were born during the first half of this year in three conservation areas — Bukit Raya National Park, SM Lamandau, and Gunung Palung National Park, she added.

Speaking about orangutan rescue efforts, she said 16 orangutans had been rescued by several regional offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) on the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra.

The first rescue was conducted by the BKSDA-Central Kalimantan officials on January 3, 2020, and the last rescue was conducted by the BKSDA-North Sumatra officials on June 15, 2020, she added. (ANTARA)