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Three tips for orangutan-watching
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Orangutans interact with each other at Camp Seluang Mas. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
F
or wildlife enthusiasts, one of the best places to look for orangutans, a critically endangered animal, is in Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan.
Last year, the national park reportedly welcomed more than 25,000 visitors, an increase from 16,000 visitors in 2014.
Recently, the national park, in collaboration with Orangutan Foundation International (OFI), hosted a training program from April 24 to 29 to improve the quality of human resources. Involving 78 tour guides, the program shared several tips on orangutan-watching.
Those who want to see the great apes in person should consider the tips below.
Do not feed the orangutans
The national park’s head, Helmi, told kompas.com that visitors were prohibited from giving food to the orangutans.
Helmi explained that the management once received an autopsy report, stating that an orangutan had died from food given to it by visitors. Orangutans that do not receive food from humans typically die of natural causes.
Read also: Fantastic animals of Indonesia and where to find them
Do not touch the orangutans
Some visitors may want to hug orangutans and take photos with them. However, doing so increases the risk of passing diseases to the apes.
During the training, OFI president Birute Mary Galdikas warned the guides not to allow visitors to touch the orangutans, stating that hygiene was of utmost importance for the apes.
Galdikas said she often washed her hands up to 20 times while interacting with orangutans at the care center.
Do not disturb the natural environment
The national park guides are responsible for preserving the natural habitat of the orangutans. The guides are also taught to prohibit visitors from disturbing the environment.
Galdikas said that although orangutans were not afraid of humans, a noisy environment could cause them stress.
“Stress can reduce the immune system, making them more susceptible to illness,” said Galdikas.
Moreover, Galdikas also revealed that lights or flash from cameras used in the park's feeding area increased the risk of cataracts or early blindness in orangutans. (jes/asw)
