Cloth seller willing to spend money to save a child orangutan

Sampit (Antaranews Kalsel) - Suryani, a resident of Tumbang Maya Village, Antang Kalang Subdistrict, Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, handed over an orangutan to the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Sampit Guard Post.


"Indeed, I am sad, because my child likes animals. But from the beginning I realized that this orangutan is protected, so I intend to save it to be handed over to BKSDA. Moreover, I pity this orangutan child was not treated well," Suryani said in Sampit on Friday .

Initially when selling cloth around to Tumbang Maya Village, Suryani saw that there was a child orangutan in the home of a resident. It condition is thin and looks unwell.

The female orangutan who is estimated to be six months old was found alone in the forest. Protected animal that have the Latin name Pongo Pygmaeus was then taken home by residents.

Suryani was interested in taking her home, but the residents did not allow it. After arriving home, Suryani told her husband. Her husband explained that orangutans are protected animals, should not be maintained without permission, especially if placed in an inappropriate place because they are prone to death.

A few days later, Suryani returned to Tumbang Maya Village and explained it to the residents who looked after the orangutan. After discussion and Suryani promised to replace the costs incurred while caring for the orangutan child, residents were finally willing to give up the child orangutan.

Suryani then brought home and cared for the child orangutan she named Keri. She and her husband and son then went to Sampit to travel more than five hours to hand over the orangutan to BKSDA.

"I contacted Antang Kalang Sub-District Police and was connected with BKSDA. I took the orangutan on January 9, so I took care for it more than a month until I had the opportunity to take it to Sampit. My child had asked to take care longer before being submitted to BKSDA," Suryani said looks moved to have to apart from Keri.

Commander of the Sampit BKSDA Guard Post Muriansyah who came to evacuate the child orangutan was very grateful for Suryani and her family's concern. He applauded Suryani willing to come all the way to Sampit intentionally giving up the protected animal.

"We will bring this child orangutan to Pangkalan Bun to be rehabilitated. The condition of the orangutans is healthy, even though there are small cuts on the legs, but they are dry and the body looks thin," Muriansyah said.

Muriansyah said, orangutan parents usually never leave their children alone even though they are in the nest and will always be taken wherever they go. That's why Muriansyah suspected that the orangutan's mother has been killed.

Muriansyah reminded people not to keep orangutans for violating the law. Orangutans kept by humans are very prone to death. Animals that are similar to human anatomy can also transmit dangerous diseases to humans, such as tuberculosis, hepatitis and others.

Residents who maintain, let alone kill orangutans, are threatened with severe legal sanctions. Based on Law Number 5/1990 Article 21, anyone who maintains, hunts, trades and smuggles orangutans, owaowa, slow lorises, bears and other protected wildlife, will be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of Rp100 million.