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AKARTA: The National Police Criminal Investigation Division (Bareskrim) has sent its special crimes detention unit to East Kalimantan to investigate the killing of Morio orangutans, which allegedly occurred at an oil palm plantation in Kutai Kartanegara Regency.

The plantation belongs to PT Khaleda Agroprima Malindo, a branch of Malaysia-based Metro Kajang Holdings Bhd.

“Bareskrim officials have appointed a team that will be likely led by the director. I can’t comment any further because the team has just arrived there,” National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution said on Thursday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

He added that the team would also cooperate with Malaysia’s police in the investigation.

Mulawarman University’s Center for Tropical Forest Research found orangutan bones around Kutai Kartanegara Regency.

East Kalimantan’s Natural Resources Conservation Center claimed to have proof of orangutans being slaughtered.

Orangutans are reportedly being butchered because they are considered a disturbance to palm plantations.