Orangutan - Exclusive Great Ape from indonesia

One of the most inteligent primates is Orangutan and it is the only exclusive Kalimantan's living genus of great ape. The word "orangutan" comes from the Indonesia words (orang = man /people; utan = forest), hence "Man of the Forest". Generally, they are not aggressive and live mostly in solitary life foraging for food. Typically, they have reddish-brown long hair with longer arms than other great apes.

Orangutan height averages from 1 to 1.5 meters, with average weights between 35 - 110 kg or more. They have similar hands with human's hands. They can grasp things with both of their hands and feet. Ficus fruits are their favorite food because it's easier to digest.

Recently, there are two kind of Orangutan's genus that still available : Borneon Orangutan (Pongo pugmaeus) and Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii). According to IUCN Red List of Mammals, both genus are listed as critically endangered animals. The total number of Borneon Orangutan is less than 14% from the recent past. Most of Orangutan were killed because of forest and habitat destruction dueto logging, mining, and forest fires.

A number of organisation are working for the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction of Orangutans. One of the non-profit NGO (Non Governmental Organisation) who has dedicated themselves to the consevation of the endangered Bornean Orangutan is The Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation. Founded by Dr Willie Smits in 1991, this Indonesian company has taking care more than 1,000 orangutans and employing more than a thounsandpeople at a hundred sites in Kalimantan to save orangutan. They operated a lot of large projects, such as Samboja Lestari Forest Rehabilitation Program and Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Program. Both program is managed by Lone Droscher Nielsen. BOS can be considered as the biggest primated conservation NGO worldwide.

Samboja Lestari itself is an area that created intentionally by BOS as tropical rainforest. It located Kutai District, near the city of Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. The aim of this rehabilitation is to providing save haven for rehabilitated orangutan, while at the same time providing a source of income for local people. With 2,000 hectares ofdeforested and degraded land,Samboha has become oneof the biggest rehabilitation area for Orangutan and other endagered species of birds and primates.

If you have interest to know more about Orangutan and other rare birds, you can take eco-tourism that bein held by Tourist Department of East Kalimantan. You will see the exotic part of orangutan and the fresh rainforest.