The Indonesia-chapter of International Animal Rescue (YIARI) is set to release three orangutans back to the wild in Mount Tarak's protected forests, which span 32 hectares in southern part of Mt. Palung National Park, West Kalimantan.

YIARI program director Karmele Liano Sanchez said on Monday two out of three orangutans to be released had re-acclimatized to the wild.

'When rescued, the two orangutans were still wild so it didn't take much time for us to rehabilitate them. We hope the third orangutan can learn from the other two so that it can quickly adapt to life in the wild again,' Karmele told The Jakarta Post at YIARI's Orangutan Rescue and Conservation Center in Sungai Awan Kiri village, located 13 kilometers from Ketapang, West Kalimantan.

Karmele said rehab workers would follow the orangutans released back into their natural habitat for one year to ensure they could survive. A microchip would be installed in the back of the orangutans' necks to help staff monitor the endangered species.

'The intensity of monitoring will depend on how far the orangutans can adapt to life in the wild again,' said Karmele.

'In the beginning, they will be monitored every day. They must be continuously monitored, even up to 12 hours per day.'

Almost 90 orangutans have been rehabilitated in YIARI's shelter during the last four years. As many as 17 have been released in several locations such as Mt. Tarak, Pematang Gadung peat forest, Hulu Sei Tolak forest and conservation areas belonging to plantation companies, during 2010-2013.

According to a Fauna and Flora International (FFI) Indonesia's program survey, Mt. Tarak is considered suitable for supporting orangutans' needs.

FFI Indonesia botanist Hanjoyo said there was much biodiversity in the Mt. Tarak area. The density of trees in the forest allows orangutans to freely move from one tree to another.

'A hectare has more than 60 trees with trunk diameters reaching more than 30 centimeters. It's very suitable for orangutans' movement, including seeking food and nesting,' said Hanjoyo. (ebf)

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