This is KPC’s strategy for preventing and handling orangutan conflicts

KPC Environmental Manager Kiagus Nirwan said that preventing orangutan conflicts in the KPC environment was carried out through the creation of regulations in the form of Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) for Animal Integration and Handling. This SOP continues to be socialized to employees and contractors. Apart from that, KPC continues to enrich food plants in natural forest areas.

Nirwan further said that other things that KPC does are conducting Animal Safety Inductions, which are routinely carried out every month and monitoring biodiversity every two years. KPC is also building a high value conservation area with an area of more than 1,538 hectares. This was conveyed by Nirwan at the Socialization event for Handling Protected Wild Animals (Orangutans), at KPC last February 2024.

The event presented speakers, Head of the East Kalimantan Conservation and Natural Resources Agency (BKSDA), M. Ari Wibawanto, S. Hut., M. Sc and KPC Environmental Manager Kiagus Nirwan and Orangutan Researcher Dr Yaya Rayadin.

At the event, Nirwan also explained the handling of orangutans that had been carried out by KPC. According to Nirwan, KPC has provided two veterinarians, five Animal Task Force members, a Rescue Team and a Call Out Team. KPC also has two sets of rehabilitation cages, two sets of transit cages and dozens of warning signs scattered on hauling roads, public roads and animal crossing areas.

Meanwhile, regarding the appearance of orangutans which are often seen by humans and often go viral on social media, the Head of the East Kalimantan BKSDA, M. Ari Wibawanto, S. Hut., M. Sc gave his response. According to him, people do not need to panic when they see orangutans. There are two approaches taken by BKSDA, especially to resolve orangutan conflicts with humans.

Firstly by expulsion or herding. “Orangutans that disturb you just need to be chased away or herded back into the forest. “Don’t give it food and don’t hurt any orangutans you see,” said Ari.

The second way, according to Ari, is to immediately contact the East Kalimantan BKSDA call center on 0821 1333 8181. The BKSDA team will capture healthy orangutans to move them to a new habitat (translocation) or entrust them to the Rehabilitation and Reintroduction Center if the orangutans are injured and unhealthy.( *)