On Friday, October 18, 2025, a joint team consisting of the West Kalimantan BKSDA, the Betung Kerihun and Danau Sentarum National Park Authority (BBTNBKDS), and Sintang Orangutan Center (SOC) successfully evacuated an adult male wild orangutan in Suai Hamlet, Melapi Village, North Putussibau Subdistrict, Kapuas Hulu Regency. Prior to the evacuation, BBTNBKDS received several reports from local residents regarding the presence of a wild orangutan that had been moving between locations, ranging from community gardens to areas close to residential settlements. This situation indicates that forest conditions as the natural habitat of orangutans are increasingly under pressure, forcing wildlife to leave their natural ranges and move closer to human settlements. Such circumstances not only heighten the risk of human–orangutan conflict but also create concern and fear among local communities. In response, BBTNBKDS coordinated with West Kalimantan BKSDA and SOC to conduct a ground check and carry out community outreach around the affected area to minimize the potential for human–orangutan conflict. According to information provided by residents, the orangutan was last observed in a community garden in Suai Hamlet, Melapi Village. After receiving the report on October 17, 2025, the joint team immediately mobilized to the site that afternoon to conduct initial observations and prepare an evacuation plan. This rapid response was made possible by the community’s awareness and prompt reporting to the relevant authorities.
Observations continued until the orangutan built a night nest, after which the evacuation process was carried out the following day. In the early morning of October 18, 2025, the team returned to the location before the orangutan awoke from its night nest. The evacuation process was temporarily hindered by heavy rainfall, prompting the team to wait for weather conditions to improve while setting up a temporary shelter near the site. Once the rain subsided, the team safely awakened the orangutan, which was resting in the upper canopy of a durian tree owned by a local resident with a dense branch structure. Anesthetization was conducted carefully, and the orangutan was successfully evacuated using a safety net. Following a brief health assessment, the adult male orangutan was estimated to be over 20 years old, weighed approximately 78 kilograms, and was declared to be in good health. As the evacuation was completed in the late afternoon, the orangutan was temporarily housed overnight at the Putussibau–Badau Conservation Resort Office. The following day, on October 19, 2025, the orangutan was translocated by boat to SOC’s release site at Jepala Lala, along the Mendalam River, which is part of Betung Kerihun National Park.
Through this incident, the joint team once again emphasized the importance of protecting and conserving forests as the primary habitat for orangutans and other wildlife. Communities are encouraged not to take actions that may endanger wildlife, to protect forests surrounding their areas, and to immediately report the presence of orangutans or other wild animals in gardens or residential areas to the relevant authorities. Timely and accurate reporting is key to managing human–wildlife conflict safely while supporting the long-term protection of orangutans in the wild.
