Orangutan habitat under threat

Orangutan habitat under threat

PANGKALAN BUN, Central Kalimantan: Illegal timber workers have
damaged the 5,000-hectare central area of Tanjung Puting National
Park, the official rehabilitation center for orangutans.

Head of the 415,050-hectare park Suherty Reddy said on Tuesday
that the number of the illegal timber fellers grew to hundreds
operating in various spots, such as the rivers of Buluh Besar,
Buluh Kecil, Pembuang Hulu and Sekonyer, over the past five
months.

"The damage will soon spread to the other areas currently used
by international scientists," Reddy warned.

Spokesman for the provincial administration office Harun Al
Rasyid admitted that his office was unable to stop the pillaging
of the wood.

He said Governor Warsito Rasman urged the local authorities to
meet with all legal and illegal timber enterprises, wood cutters
and community leaders to explain about the existence and function
of the park, Antara reported.