Leuser : Baby orangutans rescued from Indonesia's pet trade - BBC News

Summary

The Louisa Rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia, is a unique habitat where elephants, rhinos, tigers, and orangutans coexist, but it's under threat from deforestation. Over 110,000 hectares have been lost to palm oil farms and infrastructure in the past two decades. This has led to increased human-animal encounters, with orangutans being captured for pets or the black market. A rescue charity recently saved an orangutan named Bom-Bom, kept illegally by a soldier's wife. Despite it being illegal to keep orangutans as pets in Indonesia, no one has been prosecuted, and the government lacks a rescue program. Charities are left to rehabilitate and release orangutans back into the wild, but they face challenges as poaching and wildlife trafficking thrive amidst the rapid loss of their habitat.

Takeaways

• 🌳 The Louisa Rain Forest in Sumatra, Indonesia, is a unique habitat where elephants, rhinos, tigers, and orangutans coexist.
• 😔 The rainforest is being rapidly destroyed, with over 110,000 hectares lost to palm oil farming and infrastructure in the past two decades.
• 🐵 As the forest shrinks, orangutans increasingly encounter humans, leading to the capture of young orangutans for pets or illegal trade.
• 🔒 A soldier's wife was found keeping a baby orangutan as a pet, highlighting the issue of orangutans being kept in captivity by individuals.
• 💉 Sedating and transporting orangutans for rescue can be risky, but it's crucial for their rehabilitation and eventual release into the wild.
• 🈲 It's illegal in Indonesia to keep orangutans as pets, yet many high-status individuals, including government and military officials, do so without prosecution.
• 😢 The lack of government action means that charities are left to rescue and rehabilitate orangutans, bearing the costs and responsibilities.
• 👶 Orangutan mothers are fiercely protective of their infants, and many are likely killed when their babies are taken, as seen with the orangutan named Bom Bom.
• 🏥 Rehabilitation centers play a vital role in caring for rescued orangutans, including quarantine and eventual reintegration into the wild.
• 🌿 The rapid deforestation in Sumatra is not only affecting orangutans but also other wildlife, with poaching and trafficking being significant issues.
• 🤔 The future of the Louisa Rain Forest and its inhabitants, like Bom Bom, is uncertain due to ongoing deforestation and lack of enforcement.

Q & A

Where is the Louisa Rain Forest located?

The Louisa Rain Forest is located on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

What makes the Louisa Rain Forest unique?

The Louisa Rain Forest is unique because it is one of the few places on Earth where elephants, rhinos, tigers, and orangutans still coexist.

How much of the Louisa Rain Forest has been lost in the past 20 years?

More than 110,000 hectares of the Louisa Rain Forest have been lost to palm oil farmland and infrastructure projects in the past 20 years.

What is the impact of deforestation on orangutans?

Deforestation is causing orangutans to come into contact with humans more frequently, leading to an increase in the capture of baby orangutans for pets or the international market.

Why was Boom Boom kept as a pet?

Boom Boom was kept as a pet by the wife of a soldier, likely as a status symbol to show pride and power.

What is the legal status of keeping orangutans as pets in Indonesia?

It is illegal in Indonesia to keep an orangutan as a pet.

How does the lack of enforcement affect wildlife trafficking?

The lack of enforcement allows poachers and wildlife trafficking syndicates to have a strong foothold in Sumatra, leading to increased animal suffering.

What is the role of charities in the rescue and rehabilitation of orangutans?

Charities on the ground are responsible for rescuing and rehabilitating orangutans, as the government has no program to do so and bears the cost of these efforts.

What is the process for a rescued orangutan like Boom Boom to be released back into the wild?

Rescued orangutans must spend at least a couple of months in quarantine cages with no physical contact with other orangutans, waiting for test results. After this period, they will eventually be released back into the rainforest.

What is the fate of orangutan mothers whose infants are captured?

The mothers of captured infants are almost certainly killed, as they will defend their infants with their lives and are unwilling to voluntarily hand them over.

What is the future of the Louisa Rain Forest and its inhabitants like Boom Boom in a few years?

The future of the Louisa Rain Forest and its inhabitants is uncertain due to ongoing deforestation and the impact on wildlife, including orangutans like Boom Boom.