An Orange Flash: Orangutan Sightings at the Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project in Indonesia
- Wildlife Works
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
By Tamara Anisa, Communications Specialist Indonesia
In 2024, the Wildlife Works Indonesia (WWI) team celebrated an exciting moment when we received two remarkable wildlife videos from a local community member. The footage captured a critically endangered Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and a vulnerable sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), both seen separately in Batampang Village Forest. Though the videos were low-resolution, the orange flash of an orangutan gracefully swinging through the trees and the sun bear skillfully sliding down a trunk were breathtaking sights.
These were the first documented sightings of these species since we began working with the community in early 2023. While villagers often heard orangutan calls in the forest, seeing them on camera provided undeniable proof of their presence. This evidence not only reaffirmed the importance of protecting village forests but also reignited hope for conservation efforts.
The excitement didn’t stop there. A few months later, during a canal mapping activity in Batilap Village, our team witnessed an orangutan in the wild, an unforgettable encounter. Just three days later, the Batampang patrol team reported another orangutan sighting, reinforcing the significance of their habitat within these forests.
WWI operates under an environmental protection agreement recognized by the Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Office of Central Kalimantan. As part of this initiative, local communities conduct regular forest patrols, actively safeguarding their land and the wildlife that depends on it.
These sightings are a powerful reminder, village forests are critical habitats for endangered species. Protecting them is not just a responsibility, it’s an urgent necessity.
