Borneo to have orangutan population boosted
Borneo, known for its orangutans among other wildlife, is set to become home to even more of the endangered species, conservationists have said.
The Raleigh expedition country has reserved thousands of hectares of forest for 200 captive orangutans which will be released as part of a conservation drive.
Forestry ministry secretary general Boen Purnama, told Indonesian news agency AFP: "A foundation has asked for a permit on about 86,000 hectares of forests in Kutai area in East Kalimantan (Borneo) to be used for orangutan conservation."
The great ape has been suffering as vast tracts of Indonesian jungle have been cleared for palm oil plantations and logging.
Experts say there are about 50,000 to 60,000 orangutans left in the wild, 80 per cent of them in Indonesia and the rest in Malaysia.
Those taking a gap year to Borneo might be able to catch a glimpse of an orangutan by taking a jungle trek, but for a definite viewing they can visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary in Sabah.
