Proboscis "Lola" Finally Returns to Habitat

Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalimantan) - Lola Amalia, an adult female proboscis, was among four other bekantans released to their natural habitat by Environment and Forestry (LHK) Minister Siti Nurbaya together with Banjarmasin Mayor, South Kalimantan Regional Secretary, Chairman of the Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia and Regent Barito Kuala.

Minister Siti Nurbaya who gave the name Lola Amalia as a token of appreciation for dedication of Amalia Rezeki, chairman of Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia, which has been doing rescue efforts of bekantan in South Kalimantan.

Proboscis were released consist of Lucky Boy (male, 7 years), Mantuil (female, 3.5 years), Titik (female, 5 years), and Lola Amalia (female, 5years).

"I really applaud and appreciate Amalia Rezeki of Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia has sought help to preserve proboscis monkeys in South Kalimantan. For that, one female proboscis that we will loose, I gave the name Lola Amalia, I took on the name Amalia Rezeki," explained the minister when it will be released to it habitat.

Proboscis were released are the result of efforts to rescue from conflicts between animals and people for their land use, land and forest fires, as well as the results of the public deliverables. The rescue made by the Sabahat Bekantan team along with South Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).

Meanwhile Amalia was touched on the achievement of struggle by Sahabat Bekantan in 26 years, since the bekantan enacted as mascot of South Kalimantan, has now received special attention, both from the provincial government to the ministerial level, with a marked with the presence of LHK Minister on the release of bekantan in Bakut Island, Barito Kuala.

According to her, SBI during 2015 to 2017 has been about 27 times evacuated the proboscis. A total of 20 animals has been released, 7 others are in treatment, but three of them could not be saved due to burns were quite serious.