Insect index drops to five

Insect index drops to five

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Fires that have been ravaging
parts of East Kalimantan forests since January this year have
destroyed many species of insects, according to an expert.

Antara reported that a study in the area had found that the
fires caused "the insect index" to decline from 30 to five,
signifying a great loss of insects, thus adversely affecting the
ecosystem.

The study took place at a research forest managed by
Mulawarman University in Bukit Soeharto National Park.

"The disappearance of insects poses a problem in efforts to
rehabilitate the burned forests," said researcher Abubakar Lahji
on Saturday.

The study also noted that some animals had fled the
conservation area due to the damaged habitat and food shortages.

"It is difficult to spot wild boars now because tubers, which
are their main food, have been destroyed by the fires," he said.

The conservation area is home to a variety of endangered
animals including the orangutan, sun bear, proboscis monkey,
porcupine and a rare deer species.

The office of the Environmental Impact Management Agency in
East Kalimantan said dozens of rare animals had died because of
the forest fires.

The Semboja forest research center is looking after some 30
orangutans which fled from Kutai national park. (swe)