Orangutan victim still recovering

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Supaini, 42, was still recuperating in hospital yesterday after he sustained injuries last week fighting off a 100-kilogram orangutan.

The clash occurred as the farmer was putting out the forest fire which had come dangerously close to his field in the Kutai regency.

According to Supaini, the orangutan leaped out and attacked him.

While attempting to escape the rage of the incensed beast, Supaini fell and his leg was caught in a hole.

He struggled to fight off the dark brown-haired animal as best he could. "If Mul (his neighbor) hadn't come to help I probably would have died. The animal was so strong," Supaini recounted.

On seeing the attack, Mul rushed quickly to Supaini's aid, hitting the orangutan with a machete.

After several blows, the orangutan fell to the ground. It later died.

Supaini was later taken to Wahab Syahranie hospital in Samarinda. He lost several fingers which were bitten by the animal, Antara reported.

The orangutan is believed to be one of many fleeing its sanctuary in the Kutai National Park which has been hit by forest fires. (mds)