Pontianak, West Kalimantan - August 19 is celebrated as International Orangutan Day every year, since 2013. In line with this, the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) together with partners such as Yayasan Titian Lestari, WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program, West Kalimantan Orangutan Conservation Forum (FOKKAB), Palung Foundation and Yayasan Planet Indonesia (YPI) organized several activities in commemoration of International Orangutan Day 2018 with the theme "West Kalimantan 'Home' for Orangutans, Let's Move Together to Save Bornean Orangutans".

Head of West Kalimantan KSDA Center, Sadtata Noor Adirahmanta said that it is time for parties in West Kalimantan to intensively conduct conservation campaigns, especially on orangutan conservation.

"We will do this campaign in a more massive and wide-scale manner so that it can touch all levels of society, including the younger generation. Invite and involve them in orangutan rescue activities. Give people an understanding of the importance of these animals in the ecosystem. Until one day the whole community realizes that humans can coexist with orangutans," he explained.

Orangutans, as the only great ape in Asia, are endemic to Borneo, Sumatra and parts of Sarawak in Malaysia, inhabiting lowland tropical rainforests and swamps. In general, there are three species: Pongo pygmaeus (Bornean orangutan), Pongo abelii (Sumatran orangutan) and Pongo tapanuliensis (Tapanuli orangutan). According to PHVA data from 2016, it is estimated that there are only 57,350 Bornean orangutans left in 181,692 km2 of habitat, covering West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and Sarawak, Malaysia. In West Kalimantan alone, it is estimated that there are ± 20,330 orangutans, consisting of ± 4,520 individuals of the sub-species Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus and ± 15,810 individuals of Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii spread inside and outside conservation areas.

West Kalimantan Program Manager, WWF-Indonesia, Albertus Tjiu said that currently almost 70% of the orangutan population is outside the conservation area. Among them are metapopulations in the northern coast of West Kalimantan, precisely around Sambas Regency and metapopulations in the southern part of West Kalimantan, precisely in Mempawah and Kubu Raya Regencies. The existence of these metapopulations is in critical condition, due to their small population size and fragmented habitat. The efforts of many parties are needed to ensure the sustainability of orangutan populations and habitats in West Kalimantan in particular.

"On this occasion, we also invite all elements of society, the private sector and the government to participate in protecting and preserving orangutans. We hope that in the future there will be no more forest conversions, especially in areas that are habitat for orangutans. The preservation of orangutans and their habitat will ultimately benefit humans," said Albertus.

The series of activities to commemorate International Orangutan Day were carried out collaboratively involving elements of government agencies, institutions and orangutan conservation activist communities in West Kalimantan. The series of activities carried out included coloring and drawing competitions for kindergarten and elementary school levels and an action campaign at the A. Yani Car Free Day (CFD) area (signing and testimonials by the public supporting orangutan conservation, interaction and discussion with the public, distribution of orangutan-themed campaign materials - pins, key chains, mugs, tumblers, t-shirts, and factsheets). In addition, an offline campaign was conducted in collaboration with Harris Hotel Pontianak in the form of video screening, banner installation, 2D orangutan photo booth commemorating International Orangutan Day, and distribution of campaign materials (pins), including video screening on the videotron at Digulis Park supported by the Pontianak City Government. Activities were conducted on August 18 and 19, 2018.

Meanwhile, the person in charge of the activity from Titian Lestari Foundation, Rangga Irawan, said that the main purpose of this International Orangutan Day commemoration is to introduce orangutans to the public in the hope that awareness of the environment will arise, especially the importance of preserving orangutan habitats and populations in West Kalimantan.

The Bornean Orangutan population, especially those in West Kalimantan, is not immune to threats such as habitat loss due to habitat fragmentation due to forest conversion into plantations and settlements, forest fires and illegal logging. Habitat loss results in frequent conflicts between humans and orangutans, which in turn often leads to orangutan deaths. Another threat is the poaching of orangutans for trade and pets.

"The orangutan population itself is decreasing along with the increasing threats to this protected species. This has made the protection status of the Bornean Orangutan in 2016 rise from endangered to critically endangered. The momentum of International Orangutan Day is an opportunity to move together with all parties to unite steps for the same goal, namely the protection and preservation of orangutans," said Rangga.

<"We need mutual concern and synergy between the government, private sector, communities, academics, and NGOs to keep Bornean orangutans sustainable and survive in the wild amidst various threats to the environment," added the Chairman of the West Kalimantan Orangutan Forum (FOKKAB), Syamsuri.

Parties:

1. BKSDA West Kalimantan

2. Titian Lestari Foundation

3. West Kalimantan Orangutan Conservation Forum (FOKKAB)

4. WWF-Indonesia

5. Yayasan Palung

6. Yayasan Planet Indonesia

Contact person :

For more information about this activity, please contact:

⦁ Rangga Irawan, TITIAN LESTARI Foundation (+62 81345650501)

⦁ Berliani Cristy, TITIAN LESTARI Foundation (+62 8115708087)

⦁ Lia Syafitri, WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan (+62 82159290047)

⦁ Syamsuri, West Kalimantan Orangutan Forum (FOKKAB), (+62 81345277282)