Pontianak (30/8) --- After three days of intensive care since being evacuated on August 27, an orangutan from Wajok Hilir Village, West Kalimantan, could not be saved. The orangutan, who had entered the village, died on Wednesday (29/8) at 10:30pm on the way to the International Animal Rescue (IAR) Rehabilitation & Conservation Center in Ketapang. Currently, the orangutan's body is undergoing an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

According to the results of medical examinations after the evacuation, the injuries sustained were not dangerous with an estimated recovery time of about 2-3 weeks before it could be released back into the wild. On August 28, the animal was even willing to eat fruits. Unfortunately, the animal's stress and dehydration levels are still very high.

Based on medical recommendations, a joint team consisting of the West Kalimantan Provincial KSDA Center, Titian Foundation, IAR Foundation, Gemawan Institute and WWF-Indonesia decided to send the Orangutan to IAR Ketapang for better care on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 7:00 pm.

The chosen route was via the Trans Kalimantan land route, minimizing human interaction to reduce the orangutan's stress levels. A pre-departure examination showed that the orangutans were in good condition to travel the route. During a follow-up examination at 10 p.m., in the Kubu Raya area, the orangutan did not show any movement. After intensive examination by Drh. Ahmad Syifa Sidik, S.KH, at 22.30 the orangutan was declared dead. The orangutan's body was brought back to Pontianak to undergo an autopsy process

"We are currently waiting for the autopsy results to determine the cause of death of the male orangutan we evacuated from Wajok Hilir. It is unfortunate that the rescue process that has been carried out together in the last few days was unable to save the orangutan," said M. Hermayani Putera, West Kalimantan Program Manager, WWF-Indonesia.

The male orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus aged around 16-17 years old and weighing around 70 kg, entered the residential area on August 25, 2012. "It is estimated that this animal was pushed into gardens and settlements in search of food because the natural forest as its habitat is diminishing and no longer able to provide food," added M. Wahyu Putra, Media Coordinator of Titian Foundation's Plant Wildlife Campaign.

Contact:
M. Wahyu Putra (Titian Foundation) no tel 085753534045
M. Hermayani Putera (WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program) no tel 0811578287

Photographs of the evacuation can be accessed at the following link with copyright noted:
© SugengHendratno/WWF-Indonesia. http://www.mediafire.com/?e2wbskgaybil3ex